The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-04-06
WE ARE IN WAR!


been sunk and overwhelmed In the
waters in the same way. There has
been no discrimination. The challenge
Is TO ali mankind Each nation must
decide for Itself how 1t will meet II.
The choice we make for ourselves must
be made with a moderation of counsel
and temperatures OF judgment be-
fitting our character and our motives
as nation, We must put excited feel
Ing away. Our motive will not be re-
venge or the victorious assertion OF
the physical might OF the nation, but
only the vindication OF right of hu-
man right, OF which we are only a
single champion.
"There is one choice we cannot make,
we are incapable OF making. We will
not choose the path of submission and
suffer tho most sacred rights OF our
nation and our people to be ignored or
violated. The wrongs against which
we now array ourselves are not COM
mon wrongs: they ciIt to the very roots
OF human life,
Urges State OF War.
with a profound sense OF the solemn
and eventful character OF the step
which we are taking and the grave re-
sponsibilities which II involves, but in
unhesitating obedience TO what ! deem
my constitutional duty. ! 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 Unit
ed States; that Il formally accepts the
status Of belligerent which has thus
been thrust upon Il and that II take
Immediate steps Of defense, but also to
exert all It's power and employ all Its
resources TO bring the government OF
the German empire to terms and end
the war.
what this viii involve is clear. II
viii involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation In counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and, as incident 10 that, the ex-
tension TO these governments OF the
most liberal financial credits. In order
that our resources may, as far as pos
sible, be added to theirs, II will involve
! The organization and mobilization OF
the material resources OF the country
10 supply the materials OF war and
serve the incidental needs OF the ma
tions In the most abundant, and yet the
most economical and efficient way pos
aihle. II will involve the immediate
| full equipment OF the navy in all re-
spects. but particularly In supplying II
with the best means, OF dealing with
the enemy's submarines II will in
yolve the immediate addition TO the
armed forces of the United States al
ready provided for by law in case OF
!, war, at least 100000 men who should
/, In my opinion, be chosen upon the prin-
(, ciple OF universal liability TO service
and also the authorization OF subse-
quent additional increments OF equa
force so soon as they may be needed
and can be handled in training.
Must Grant Credits.
ut will involve also, OF course. the
granting OF adequate credits TO the gov
ernment, sustained. hope. SO far as
they can eauitably be sustained by tn,
present generation, by well conceived
taxation. say sustained so far as
may be equitable taxation. because u
seems TO me that II would be most un-
wise TO base the credits which will now
be necessary entirely upon money bor-
rowed 1t is our duty. ] most respect
fully urge, to protect our people so ia,
las we may against the very serious
lhardships and evils which would likely
arise out of the initiation which would
be produced by vast loans.
Inform World OF Motives,
while we do these things, thes,
deeply momentous things, let us be yer,
clear-and make very clear--to all tho
world what our motives and our OBJ
jections are. My own thought has MOI
Ibeen driven from it's habitual and nor
NAL course by the unhappy events o.
the last two months, and do not be.
llieve that the thoughts OF the natlor
has been altered or clouded by them.
have exactly the same things II
mind now that | had in mind wher
II addressed the Senate on the 22i o.
January last; the same that had II
Imind when addressed the Congress
on the Sd OF February and on the 26ti
OF February, Our object now, as then
lis to vindicate the principles of peace
and the justice in the life Of the worlt
as against selfish and autocratic DOW
er and,to set up amongst the really FREE
and self governed peoples of the worlt
such concert of purpose and Of ac
tion as will henceforth insure the OBJ
servance of those principles,
Neutrality Is no longer feasible ol
desirable where the peace OF the worlt
lis involved and the freedom of its peo
pies, and the menace to that peace ant
freedom lies In the existence of auto
cratic governments backed by organ
lied force which is controlled who'll!
by their will, not by the will of thei
people We have seen the last of neu
trality in such circumstances.
\ We are at the beginning of an age II
which Il will be insisted that the sam,
standards OF conduct and of respon
sibility for wrong done shall be OBJ
served among nations and their gov
ernments that are observed among th'
Individual citizens OF civilized States
I'VE have no quarrel with the Ger
man people. We have no feeling TO
wards them but one OF sympathy ain,
friendship. It was not upon their i'm
pulse that their government acted II
entering this war II was not will
their previous knowledge or approval
1T was a war determined upon a.
wars used to be determined upon II
the old, unhappy days when peoples