The Kentucky register. (Richmond, Ky.) 190?-1917, 1917-04-13

mainly or of respect for the under
standings that were supposed to un
derlie the intercourse of the world.
81 am not now thinking of the loss
of property involved, immense and
serious as that is, hut only of the
wanton and wholesale destruction OF
the lives of nonCombatants, men,
women and children, engaged in pur-
suits which have always. even in the
darkest periods Of modern history,
been deemed innocent and legitimate.
Property can be pad for; the lives
OF peaceful and innocent can not be.
The present German submarine war
fare against commerce is a warfare
against mankind.
Armed Neutrality Ineffective.
"When addressed the congress on
the 26tn of February last | thought
that 1t would suffice to assert our neu-
trail rights with arms, our right to use
the seas against unlawful interfer
ence, our right to keep our people
safe against unlawful violence. But
armed neutrality. it now appears, is
impracticable. Because submarines
are in effect outlaws when used as
the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping, it is
impossible to defend ships against
their attacks as the law of nations
has assumed that merchantmen
would defend themselves against pri-
ing chase upon the open sea. II is
common prudence In such circum-
stances. grim necessity indeed, to ell
deayor to destroy tIem before they
have shown their own intentions.
They must be dealt with upon sight,
II dealt with at all
THE German government denies
the rieht OF neutrals to use arms at
all within the areas of the sea whicn
it has prescribed even in the de.
Tense of rights which no modern pub
licist has ever before questioned their
right to defend. There is one choice
we can not make, we are incapable o.
making. We will not choose the
path OF submission and suffer the
most sacred rights Of our nation and
our people to be ignored or violated
The wrongs against which we now ar.
ray ourselves are not common
wrongs they cut to the very roots OF
human life
Solemn Step Taken.
with q profound sense Of the sol.
emn and even tragical character OF
the step am taking and of the grave
responsibilities which it involves. but
in unhesitating obedience to what |
deem my constitutional duty, advise
that the congress declare the recent
course of the imperial German gov.
eminent to be nothing less than war
against the government and people Of
the United States; that il formally ac.
cept the status of belligerent which
has thus been thrust upon #; and
that It take immediate steps not only
to put the country in more thorough
state of defense. but also to exert all
its power and employ all Of its re.
sources to bring the government OF
Germany to terms and end the war.
what this will involve is clear T.
will involve the utmost practicable
cooperation in counsel and action
with the governments now at war
with Germany and, as incident Is
that, the extension to those govern
ments of the most liberal financial
credits in order that our resources
may so far as possible be added to
theirs. 1t will involve the organiza
ton and mobilization of all the ma
terial resources of the country to sup
ply the materials of war and serve the
incidental needs of the nation in TIE
most abundant and yet the most
economical and efficient way possible.
It will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means OF dealing with the
enemy's submarines. 1t will involve
the immediate addition to the armed
forces OF the United States, already
provided for by law in case of war
at least 100000 men, who should, in
my opinion, be chosen upon the prin.
cipal Of universal liability to service.
and also the authorization of subse-
quent additional increments Of equal
force as soon as they may be nee.ied
and can be handled in training. 1t
will involve also of course, the grant.
ing OF adequate credits to the govern
ment sustained, hope. so far as they