The state herald., 1917-11-09

u 70 impossible to defend ships against
thsir attacks. - the law - natiens has
assumed that nsreAaatnsn would de-
fene themselves against DFivAteers or
ersi.srss visibls craft swing chase up-
- the oDen sea. II 10 common pru-
denos In such circumstances. grim nee
eesity indeed. to endeavor to destroy
thesn before they have shown their own
intention. They must be dealt with up-
.. sight. n dealt with At all
The German government denies the
right Of neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas Of the sea which II
mas prescribed even In the defense of
rights which no modern publicist has
ever before questioned their right to
defend. The intimation 10 conveyed that
the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale Of law and
subject to be dealt with A. pirates
would be. Armed neutrality 10 ineaec-
tual enough At bestj In such circum-
stances and In the face Of such preten-
sions II II worse than ineRectual, Il IL
likely only to produce what II was
meant to preventJ II h practically cer-
tafn t. draw ~ ists war without either
the rights er the effectiveness Of the bel
ligerents. There is sae choice We cam
aet make, We are Incapable Of makisgi
We will not choose the path Of submits
OF our nation and our people to be ig-
nored or violated The wrongs against
whhch We now array ouruelHes are no
common wrongsi they est 70 the very
roots Of human life.
With = profound sense Of the solemn
and even traEical character Of the step
! am taking and Of the grave responsi-
bi1ities which Il invelves, but in un
hesitating obedience TO what ! deem
my constitutional duty. I advise that
the congress declare the recent course
OF the Imperial German government to
be In fact nothing less than war
against the government and people of
the United States; that II formally ac-
cept the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon It. and that 1t
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 It's resources to
bring the government OF the German
empire to terms and end the war.
What this will involve is clear. 1t
will involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation In counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and as incident to that. the ex-
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits. in order
that our resources may so far as pos
sible be added to theirs.
II will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources of the country to supply the
materials of war and serve the incl
dental needs of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
II will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects.
but particularly In supplying II with
the best means Of dealing with the enc
my's submarines.
II will involve the Immediate addi-
tion to the armed forces OF the United
States. already provided for by law in
case OF war. of at least 100000 men.
who should, In my opinion. be chosen
upon the principle Of universal liabil-
ity to service. and also the authorixa-
tion of subsequent additional incre-
ments of equal force SO soon as they
may be needed and can be handled In
training.
II will IsSolSe slss, 81 course, the
grandtsg Of adequate credits 70 the
government, austaised, . hope, 40 far
.. they 60. esuiishiy bs sssssised ~
the present geaeratiss. ~ we1l-cea-
reiveA taxaties.
say sustained - far - may ~
equitable ~ taxattsa. heessse u seen.
ts ase that Il would be NEST unwise 10
base the credits, which will now ~
secessary. eatirely 90 ssssey borrowed.
IL h sur dsty, most respectfully urge.
To protect ssr people. 90 far as We
may, sgaisst the very sevtsus hard
ships asa evils which wssia ke likely
10 arise sst sf the isaatiss which wesid
be pesAsceA ~ vast issss.
II carrying eut The aeasores ~
which these thisxs are 70 he ae~sa-
pi1sheA We should keep reassaatly n
MIND the Wisdom Of Interfering ~ llt-
tie as pessible II eur swa preparatisa
aad II the equipment sf eas sws aili-
tnry forces with the dsty-for ID will
be = very practical auty-sf .uppiyiaE
the nations airsady ~ war with Ger
naasy with the materials which they
can obtsia oaiy frsm Ne sr ~ ssr as
sissanre. They nre h the aelA. saA We
.hosld help them II every way ss be
effective there.
. shnli ke the liberty 81 saExess-
tag. throuxa the several executive de-
parsmests of the gsSerumeas. for the
~essideestios Of yssr ~eaaittees.
saesssres for the es.piishmess Of
the several objects . have aessioa~d.
hepe that Il will ~ ysss pleasure 60
deal with then - having hees franeS
after very rareful thought ~ the
branch Of the Esvsssaest spoa whom
the responsibility 81 conducting the
war ssd safeEuarAisE the sassss will
saost directly fall.
While we do these thiags, thes~ deep
" asmeatoss thiHgs, let % be very
clear. ssd mske very clear ss al the
sssvld. Whist our motives ss1 eov sk-
le~ss are. Ny swa Thought has net
bees driven FROM its hsbis1si asa nor
NAL eosrse hy the unhappy esests sf
the last tws mosths, SD . 10 sot be-
iseSe sknt tke thssEht Of the saties
has b~ea altered or ~issdeA hy then.
have exactly the ssne thtsGs II .isd
sss that ] haA II nisd whes . sd-
Ar~ss~d the senate % the 77d Of Jass-
svy iastt the same thst ! hsd n snisd
who's . addressed essgress 90 The n Of
fehvsary ssa % the 3eth 81 February.
Ous ssje~t ssw, - tkes. 10 ts stsdtrst~
the priseiplea sf peaee ssa Justice In
the iife ef the wevid - sGaisst s~in.h
and astscsatic pewes, ssa 10 set up
amssg the really tree ssd seis-8oS-
evaea peoples eS The weviS sw~h . ros-
cert Of parpose ssd 81 a~stea ss Will
h~s~esosth assure The sesessasre Of
thos~ prsnrspiea.
Neutrality IL M issgev sessthie ss
desirable where the pes~e ~ TIE world
b isvsived asd the freeAsss 81 tss pee
pIes. SD the Wess~e 10 shst pes~e asa
Sreedous Hes h the eststes~e 81 sste-