The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-04-12

meht' charged with repeated acts OF
war against the United States.
we want no more territory. We
VIII demand no indemnity. We have
no grudge to settle. nor racial anti.
pathy. We will spend our treasure
ana our blood and sacrifice our lives
without the thought of gain. We are
going to war to vindicate our honor
and independence as great nation
and In defense Of humanity.
such quarrel as we have with Ger
many Is not Of our choosing 1t was
forced upon us and we did much to
avoid 1T. For nearly three years the
president, congress, and the American
people have hoped to avoid 1t. But
one desperate act by the imperial Ger
man government has followed an
other"
German Pledges Broken
Senator Hitchcock was followed by
Senator Swanson OF Virginia, who said
tho German government "has repeat
edly and grossly violated It's treaty OBJ
legations to us. and wuntonly broken
solemn assurances"
'The issue is not peace or war" Sen
ator Swanson continued. "Vur has al.
ready been declared upon us. The Is
sue Is whether we shall accept war or
abJect and cowardly submission"
Recitlng the sinking Of American
ships. German plots, and 0utrages in
this country. Senator Swanson said the
Hipmermann plot to incite Mexico
against this country "reac ches the low
est depths Of national turpitude."
Many other senator's took part IN the
debate. Gronnn. Stone, Vardaman,
Norris and I.aFoiiette. all opposing the
resolution.
Senator Smo0t made the last speech
"a short prayer that God would
"hasten the day when liberty will be
enjoyed by all the peoples OF the
earth"
The roll call was taken while the
senator's and spectators sat solemn. A
few cheers greeted the result and then
all filed quietly out OF the chamber.
House Vote. s73 to so.
The house after debate lasting
about seventeen hours. adopted the
joint resolution by vote OF 373 to So
Nearly II hundred representatives made
speeches.
In Offering the senate resolution as
substitute for Its own. the house for
eign affairs committee submitted a
long report reviewing the history OF
submarine warfare and Americas fu-
tile protests against It, German In
trigues mud bomb plots In this country,
the effort TO ally Japan and. Mexico
against the United States and the mis-
treatment OF American officials and
citizens in Gernuny.
1T iS with the deepest sense OF re-
sp0nslbility for the momentous results
which will follow the passage OF this
resolution" said the report. that your
committee reports 1t to the house, with
the recommendation that 1t be passed.
"'fhe conduct Of the imperial Ger.
man government toward this govern.
ment. Its citizens and its interests. hns
been so dlsc0urteOus. unjust. cruel,
barbarous. and so lacking In honesty
and practice that 1t has constituted a
violation OF the course Of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
''In addition to this the German gov
ernment Is actually making war upon
the people and commerce. OF this cOun-
try. and leaves no course open to this
government but to accept Its gage Of
battle and declare that state Of war
exists"
Flood Opens tho Debate.
Under the unanimous Consent rule
by which the resolution was considered
Representative Flood could move tho
previous question at any time after one
hour and. IL sustained, bring the meas
ure to a vote. He was disposed. how
ever, to give members every Opportu-
nifty to speak throughout the day. The
debate began without any Limitation.
"War is being made upon our cOun-
try md its people" Representative
Flood said In opening. "Our ships are
being sunk. Our nonc0mbntant clti.
Zens. Including men. women and chill
dren, are being murdered. our mer.
chantmen are denied the freedom OF
the seas. There Is no choice as to our
course. We are compelled by the acts
Of the German government to enter in
to this most colossal war
"We should take our stand by the
side OF the allied nations who have
been fighting humanlty's battles for
two and one-half years. determined
that our power shall be so employed
that complete victory shall crown their
efforts and that prussinn militurism
shall be crushed and the world shall be
delivered from the threat and danger
or the HohenzOllern dynasty"