Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-04-06
President Asks Congress to
Declare War Against
German Empire.
Asserts That Germany Never Was
Our Friend and That Americans
Must Fight in Order to Make
the World Safe.


: the goth Of February last, | though
that Il would suffice 10 assert our ne,
trail rights with arms, our right to us
the seas against unlawful interference
our right TO keep our people SAT
against unlawful violence. But arme
neutrality II now appears. Is imprac
llcable. Because submarines are In 81
feet outlaws when used as the Ger
man Submarines have been use'
against merchant shipping. Il is impoa
sible 70 defend ships against their at
tacks as the law OF nations has as
lumed that merchantmen would de
fend Themselves against privateers Of
cruisers. Visible craft giving chase
upon the open sea. II is common pru
dence In such circumstances, grin
necessity indeed, TO endeavor 10 de
atrOy them before they have shown
their own intention. They must BID
dealt with upon sight II dealt with al
all -.s--------
The German government denies the
right OF neutrals 10 use arms at agl
within the areas OF the sea which u
has prescribed, even In the defense OF
rights which no modern publicist has
ever before questioned their right 10
defend. The intimation is conveyed
that the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale OF law ane
subject 90 be dealt with as pirates
would be- Armed neutrality r. inef
fectual enough at best; In such cid
pretenaions II is worse than in neutral.
- nj a.. 10
Il was meant TO prevent: II Is practi~
oally certain 20 draw us into the war
without either the rights or the eifec-
tiyeness of belligerents.
There is one choice we cannot
make we are incapable OF making:
We win not choose tho path OF sub
mission and suffer the most sacred
rights OF our nation and cur people
to DO ignored or violated. The
wrongs against which we now array
ourselves are not common wrongs;
they cut to the very roots OF human
life.
With a profound sense OF the sol
emn and even tragical character OF the
step ] am taking and OF the grave re-
sponsibilities which Il involves. but In
obedience to what deem
my constitutional duty, | advise that
the congress declare the recent course
OF tho imperial government to be IA |
fact nothing less than war against the I
government and people of the United I
States; that IL formally accept the |
status of belligerent which has thus |
been thrust upon II. and that Il take /
Immediate steps not only TO put the
In D more thorough state OF
defense, but also to exert all It's
power and employ all It's resources TO
BRING the government OF the German
umpire TO terms and end the war.
Army Of 10000 Men.
What this VIII involve Is clear. II
VIII involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation In council aud action with
no governments now at war with Ger
many. and. as Incident TO that. the ex-
ension 20 those governments OF the
most liberal financial credits. Ia order
hat our resources may. so far as pos
Tile. be added 10 theirs. II will In.
olive the organization and mobiliza-
lon OF all the material resources OF
he country 10 supply the materials OF ,
iar and serve the incidental needs OF /
be- nation In the most abundant and
OF tho most economical and efficient I
'Ry possible. IL viii involve the i'm
lediate full equipment OF the navy IN !
u respects. but particularly In supply q
" Il with the best means OF dealing I
18th tho enemy's submarines. II viii +
iyolve the immediate addition to the ;
rmed forces OF the United States al Q
sadly provided Tor by law IN case OF .
ar, at least SOC. 1000 men. who should. n
| my opinion. be chosen upon the I
rinciple OF universal liability 10 ser v
ee. sae also the authorization OF sub I,
'quent additional incFements OF equal
rec 50 soon as they may be needed
"a can De handled In training. /,
~ wfff Involve also. OF course, the e
-anting OF adequate credits TO The gov +,
nmcnt. sustained. ! hope. SO far MS II
icy can eeuita5ly be sustained. by =
% present generation by well con o
lived taxation. ! say sustained so 4,
r as mar be equitable by taxation a
'cause Il seems 20 me that Il would c,
most unwise TO base the credits O,
hich Will nov be necessary entirely
money borrowed. II Is our duty. ! 5,
ost respectfully urge. TO protect our b,
'ople so far as we may against the Il
ny serious hsrdskips and evils which o,
ouid be likely 10 arise out OF the In W
'tion which would be produced by D,
st loans. al
Help to the Allies. cS
In carrying out the measures by 10
nich these things are TO be accom- al
ished. we should keep constantly in al
Ind the wisdom OF interfering as CT
tie rs possible In our own prepara- U
N and the equipment OF our own
ilitary forces with the duty--for II tr
II be very practical duty-of sup sc
wing the nations already at war pf
III Germany With the materials W
itch they can obtain only from us or al
our assistance. They are In the G.
Id and we should help them in every n,