Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1917-03-30
The War Cloud.

Speculation is rife as to the char
acter of the message President Wilson
will deliver to the congress next Mon
day on the course to be pursued in the
affair with Germany, and the action
congress may take after hearing the
recommendations of the President.
Three courses are open. Congress
may openly declare war upon Ger
many; it may declare that a state of
war exists, or it may adopt resolu-
ton indorsing the Presidents armed
neutrality.
A sentiment seems to prevail in the
east, more vociferous than numerous,
in favor of declaration of war and
an open alliance with the Allies, Col.
Roosevelt going so far as to offer to
lead a division of American troops
to the trenches in France, but there
is small likelihood of American SOL
diers being sent to Europe. The Allies
do not need them, what they do want
is money, munitions and provisions
for the hardened troops now in the
field.
If the tone of the press, especially
that of the West, is safe criterion,
there is deep sentiment against en-
tering the war as one of the Allies or
in any way becoming entangled in
the political controversies or dynastic
ambitions of Europe. 1t is most prob
able that congress will declare that
consequence the United States will
take further steps to protect it's in
terests on the high seas, and else
where, against the piratical acts Of
Germany, thus placing the fact as to
state of war existing in the full sense
upon the acts of the Imperial German
government.
1t is extremely probable that, in this
event, our navy or armed merchant
men would come in conflict with the
submarine blockade, when open hos
tilities would begin. 1t would then
be up to Germany to declare war if
that government so desired. The Uni
ted States has but one object in this
controversy, that of maintaining safe
ty for it's vessels and rights on the
seas, and would in no sense be in
volved in the European war. We
would be simply prosecuting a war
Germany has commenced against the
United States and properly place the
blame in history upon that nation.
The plan of avoiding the European
war and fighting, If fight we must,
for our rights on the seas, just as we
fought France and England more than
100 years ago, would prove relief
to the hundreds of thousands of loyal
Americans OF German birth and des-
cent, who entertain, of course, love
of the fatherland, but who would
quickly shoulder gun to defend the
rights of their adopted country from
the attacks Of any nation, not except
ing Germany.
Defending our rights on the seas
without formally declaring war will
not be new to this nation. President
Adams fought France several years to
maintain this right, yet war was not
declared, and the war of the seas
was fought with England five years
before war was declared in 1912.
Whatever may be the decision of
congress and the President next week,
the nation will be solidly behind them.
remembering the following extract
from the inaugural address of Presi-
dent WILSON,:
1--WE may even be drawn on by cir
cumstances, not by our own purpose
or desire, to a more active assertion
Of our rights as We see them. and a
more immediate association with the
great struggle itself.
But nothing will alter our thought
Or our purpose. They are too clear to
be obscured. They are too deeply
rooted in the principles of our national
life to be altered. We desire neither
conquest nor advantage We wish
nothing that can be had only at the
)st of another people. We have al
ways professed unselfish purpose and
We covet the opportunity to prove that
our professions are sincere"