The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-04-06

German Empire. This now seems in
evitable because despite the solemn
warnings Of our government Germany
has pursued her ruthless and unlawful
policy of submarine warfare and has
sunk without warning ships engaged in
neutral commerce and flying the Stars
and Stripes. Such an issue of the con-
troversies that have been growing In
intensity between our government and
that of Germany during the last few
months will be regarded by the Amer
lean people first with feelings of pro-
found regret and secondly with an UNI
divided spirit of patriotism and cour-
age worthy of our history and worthy
of the blessings of the free government
under which we live. Our people are
opposed to war because it's barbarity
and waste and sorrows are unnecessary
and contrary to the fundamentals of civ
ilization, into the bright dawn of which
we had dared to hope that humanity
had really entered. But they are cour-
ageous in the knowledge that they have
sought no quarrel, coveted no country
but their own, nor asked advantage not
based upon honorable trade and in
dustry, in the defense of which pure
and vital principles they are ready to
hazard life itself, realizing that with
out them life would not be worth the
living. In contemplating the situation
that now confronts us. it is fitting and
proper that we should briefly review
certain points in our history and take
measure of the career that has shaped
our national character. The United
States has never yet engaged in any
warfare that had not as its foundation
the betterment of mankind, applying
the statement in its broadcast and best
sense. Our first war struck at the
root of autocratic power, placed gov
eminent upon the plane of intellect and
service. and opened the avenues of adj
vancement upon terms of equality to
every citizen. 1t would be impossible
to place limit upon the far reaching
influences of that achievement. 1t has
served as a beacon of hope to the peo-
pies of the world and Russia and China
have but recently entered upon broad
err and better national life owing to the
inspiration they have drawn from the
example of the Great Republic. Our
second war was to secure the freedom
of the seas and fix forever the founda-
tions of free government. The Mexican
war was to abate the cruelities of an
indolent and decadent people upon those
who sprung from our loins and were
imbued with our ideals. Our Civil war
was the supremest test of the ability
of people to govern themselves and
incidentally conferred freedom upon
some millions of bondmen whom we
held in contravention of the basic prin-
ciples upon which our government was
founded. 1t demonstrated that we
were great enough to purify ourselves.
The Spanish war was war for human
ity, so proclaimed and so in fact.
Nothing like it had ever occurred in all
the wide world before nor has it oc-
Cured since. BY the expenditure of
our blood and treasure we wrested two
fair sections of Gods earth from the
clutches of blighting despotism and an
nounced to the world that they should
be given over to their native peoples to
govern as we govern our own land
meath freedoms banner. And through
it all no unworthy act has stained the
national escutcheon. We have not
sought the alliance of savages in wars
against civilization; we have not grab
bed territory for the purpose of ex-
ploitation; we have not butchered wom-
en- and children nor transgressed the
few laws of humanity for which gener-
al recognition has been secured in the
conduct of warfare. Contrasting the
governmental policies of Germany with
our own we find sure ground for a de-
claration of hostilities at this time.
But before proceeding with our arraign-
ment let us make plain the fact that it
is directed against the autocratic mil
itary system which rules Germany with
an iron hand rather than against the
German people, who are admirable in
many ways. Frederick the Great left
as his chiefest claim to his title of
greatness a record for successful spoil
iation and boldly proclaimed that justi-
fication for robbery and pillage rested
wholly upon its being accomplished
with success. Like his descendant,
worshiper and imitator, Emperor Will
liam, he was not sparing of women and
children, and prosecuted his most re-
lentless war against the widowed Maria
Theresa, of Austria, and her babe, the
heir apparent to the throne. Germany
has additionally placed her warfare