Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-05

Era.FlrEG.
Indeed, 1t is now evident that it's
began; and 1t is unhappily not q mat
ter of conjecture, but a fact proved
In our courts of justice that the In.
trigues which have more than once
come perilously near disturbing tho
peace and dislocating the industries
Of the country have been carried on
at the instigation, with the support
and eve under the personal direction
Of official agents OF the imperial Ger
man government accredited, to the
government Of the United States.
Gwen In checking these things and
drying to exterpate them we have
sought to put the most generous in.
depreciation possible upon them be-
cause we knew that their source lay,
not in any hostile feeling or purpose
Of the German people toward us (who
were, no doubt, as ignorant Of them as
we ourselves were), but only In the
selfish designs of a government that
did what it pleased and told its people
nothing.
Played Their Part.
but they have played their part in
serving to convince us at last that
that government e%ntertains no real
friendship for us and means to act
against our peace and security at its
convenience.
THAT 1t means to stir up enemies
against us at our very doors the in.
tercepted note to the German minister
1t Mexico City is eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge
81 hostile purpose because we know
that In such q government, following
such methods, we can never have q
ntend; and mat in the presence Of its
organized power, always lying In wait
TO accomplish we know not what pur.
pose. there can be no assured security
Tor the democratic governments OF the
world. We r now about to accept
the gage Of battle with this natural foe
TO liberty and shall II necessary spend
the whole force of the nation to check
and nullify Its pretensions and power.
I'VE r glad now that we see the
facts with no veil Of false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the ulti.
mate peace OF the world and for the
liberation OF its peoples, the German
peoples included, for the rights of ma
lions great and small, and the privi.
lege OF men everywhere to choose
their way Of life and of obedience.
"The world must be made safe for
democracy. Its peace must be planted
upon the tested foundations of politi-
cal liberty. We have no selfish ends
TO serve. We desire no conquest, no
dominion. We seek no indemnities
tor ourselves. no material compensa-
ton for the sacrifices we shall freely
make. We are but one Of the cham
pions of the rights of mankind.
I'VE shall be satisfied when those
rights have been made as secure as
the faith and the freedom Of nations
can maknttharn
just because we fight without ran.
and without selfish object, seek.
Ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo-
pies, we shall, I feel confident, con-
duct our operations as b%elligerents
without passion and ourselves observe
with proud punctilio the principles of
right and Of fair play we profess to be
lighting for.
= have said nothing Of the govern
ments allied with the imperial govern.
ment Of Germany because they have
not made war upon US or challenged
as to defend u right and our honor.
In Status Quo.
The Austro-Hungarian government
has. indeed, vowed it's unqualified On.
dorsement and acceptance Of the reck-
less and lawless submarine warfare
adopted now without disguise by the
imperial German government and 1t
has therefore not been possible for
this government to receive Count Tar.
nowski, the ambassador recently &C.
credited to this government by the
imperial and royal government Of Aus
:ria-Hungary. but that government has
not actually engaged In warfare
against citizens Of the United States
on the seas, and take the liberty, for
the present at least, Of postponing q
discussion Of relations with the
authorities at Vienna. We enter this
war only whore we are clearly forced
INTO It because there are no other
means Of defending our rights.
All Consideration Thrown Aside.
TT will be all the easter for us "a
conduct ourselves as 'belligerenta III
high spirit of right and fairness be
:ause We act without animns, not ii
snrnity toward = people or with the
iesire 70 bring any injury or disad.
vantage upon them, but only IN armed
opposition to IN irresponsible govern
ment which has thrown aside all con
alterations o. humanity ana OF RICH,
md n running arnnck.
wa are lei me say again, the sin
sore triendssof the German people and
lhalls desire nothing 90 much Go the
larIy re.establishnent Or Intimate rs
ttattone of mutual advantage between
ls-hoWeyer hard Il may Be for them
10r the time being, to believe that
thlss AZ spoken from our hearts. w
Aaye borne with their present GOV
E1rnn1ent through all these hittay