Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18
Impression Upon Country.


REPRESENTATIVE Lenroot prefaced his
speech by saying the extremists on
both sides of the question had done
much to whip the waters into tur-
MOL. until there is general oelieI
throughout the country that II Con-
gress is called upon to act at an II
will choose between general declara-
ton of war against Germany inter
vening in the European war ana po-
sition that whatever the proVocatioh
may be, we will under no circum.
stances defend our rights with force
He continued, saying:
I'm the present crisis with Germany
7 have felt that the best service menu
her of Congress could render his coun-
fry was to refrain from discussing the
matter on the floor until We We're cai!eo
upon to take some action Ohlortuildte
" that has not been done, ana eNtrenl-
lists on both sides have been freely eN-
pressing their opinions until there Is
very general belief throughout the
country that if Congress is called upon
TO act at all il will choose between
general declaration of war against
Germany, intervening in the European
war and a position that Whatever tne'
provocation may be we Will unoer no
circumstances defend our rights with
force.
Finds Others Agree.
'sBelieying as I do that neither OF
these positions correctly interprets the
position of Congress, the President or
the American people. l think it proper
now to give expression to what l pc
lieve is the dominant sentiment of the
House at this time I have no authority
to speak for any one but myself. put IN
conversation with my colleagues ma
a very general sentiment IN agreement
my
I'm severing diplomatic relations with
Germany the President did only MS
duty. To have done less would have
forfeited any respect the world still
had left for US.
by her own admission Germany has
made herself an outlaw. She does not
pretend that her act, which was the
cause of the breach. can be justified by
international law. She asserts that she
will sink without warning neutral ships
and destroy neutral rights within spec
flied zones. In the case OF other neu-
trails she has actually done So Any
day may bring the news of destruction
of American ships and American lives
in admitted violation of international
law and of the laws of humanity
Not the American Spirit.
IF / understand the views expressed
by the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Moore, and some others. If this
shall come to pass we must do nothing
No matter what the provocation may
be, under no circumstances must We
defend our rights with force. If this is
TO be the attitude of. Congress and the
American people then the days OF this
republic are numbered. We will no
longer be nation, for any people too
cowardly to fight for their liberty on
the sea If need be will be too cowardly
TO fight for their liberty on the land.
But Mr.. Speaker, that is not the spirit
of the American people and when the
time comes that will not be the spirit
OF this Congress. Representing the
great American people here, we Will
vote to maintain by force. If need be,
our liberties upon the sea, but that
does not mean that we will vote gen.
eral declaration of war against Ger
many. 1t does not mean that we viii
intervene in the European war. 1t does
not mean that we will send our men to
the trenches of Europe. 1t does not
mean that we are to sit in and deter
mine the terms of settlement of Euro
pean questions 1t means only that we
are going to settle our difficulty with
Germany by compelling her to respect
our rights upon the sea.
Will Be War Upon Sea.
IF war must come, it will be a war
upon the sea. destroying every German
submarine that we can and protecting
our own ships until such time as Ger
many shall cease to be an outlaw upon
the sea. When Germany shall again re-
spect our rights our quarrel with her
will be over and we will be ready to
make peace with her. regardless OF
European nations or European quar-
rels.
'T believe the American people and
this Congress will stand for this pol
icy and that those who would drag us
into this world war for reasons other
than maintaining our own rights and
those who are for peace at any price
together constitute a very small mi
nority.
Mr.. Speaker. when the contest upon
the McLemore resolution arose last
year I was against the President be-
cause 1 believed he was wrong, be-
cause ! was unwilling to commit my
self to the use of force to maintain
what the President had himself de-
nominated a doubtful legal right.
never will vote to use force to maintain
doubtful legal right, but there is no
doubt about the question involved in
this crisis. They are admitted wrongs
and the only question is whether we
shall submit to them without any
further effort to correct them.
American Citizens Only"
IF we are called upon to act in this
he