The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-03
Ex-President Taft Says Ger
man Ultimatum Shows
Importance of Union.
CALLS DECLARATION
DEFIANCE OF RIGHT
IT War Comes, United States
Will Have Been Forced !.
to It, He Says.

Washington. Feb. 2.-Formcr Prcsi-
dent Taft prefaccd u prepared speech
on the League to Enforce Peace here
tonight with a reference to, the new
German crisis, declaring that il the
United States were drawn into war
Germany would force it by "her defi-
ance Of plain principles Of justice and
humanity, which should obtain between
civilized nations."'
The responsibility which now rests
on the president and congress is very
heavy" said Mr.. Taft. ",rhey should
know and do know that the American
people will back them to the end. May
God give them good deliverance."
The former president was speaking
before the Chamber OF Commerce OF
the United States.
Importsnce Shown.
Il had prepared this address," he
said, before Germany startled this
country and all neutrals by her last
note. This great crisis only emphasizes
the importance of the purpose and
plan of the league In the future his
tory of this country
"Of all things we would avoid war.
We are not prepared for it. It's aw-
ful consequences we know from Eu-
ropes suffering. Our prayer is for
some escape from it in this critical
hour. il consistent with our national
honor. But we must face the facts.
Germany proposes ruthlessly to
wage war upon the property and lives
of neutrals in flagrant violation of their
rights. She began with Belgium. She
now includes them all. Our national
conscience is void of offense against
her. Her cruel and indefensible
drowning without warning of more
than 100 innocent Americans on the
Lusitania. we condoned in view of
her pledge against repetition. That
pledge Is now withdrawn. II war is to
come between us, she will be the un-
provoked aggressor. We would avoid
being drawn into the European vortex
by every honorable concession. If she
forces us into it, she will do so BY
her defiance of plain principles Of
Justice and humanity.
Lack Of Understanding.
I'm spite of her great strength and
marvellous efficiency Gcrmany's mani
fest weakness has bccn in failure to
understand other peoples and to ap-
preciatc the moral forces working in
them. She may not know the spirit
Of the good natured, tolerant, war
hating giant she now challenges. She
may overestimate, as she has done be-
fore in the case OF other nations. the
influence of sordid motives, of the in
ertia of comfort and of disscntient elc-
ments among us, which she may ex-
pect to paralyzc our action. She may
stir an active patriotism in our people,
which she does not suspect. She may
shock US into a real preparation for
war and tho sacrifice it involves as
nothing else might.
''She may push us at once into q
league to enforce IL just peace. She
may force us into an organization of
our potential military strength on the
one hand and into moral leadership
in the maintenance of international
Justice on the other. Thenceforth our
isolation from the wars and welfare
Of the rest of the world would be at
an end. When peace would come, ..,e
eyes of our people, in spite of warn
ings Of statesmen who are looking
backward, would be opened not only
to the wisdom. but to the necessity
Of our leading the nations into a per-
manent worlds league to enforce
pcacc. -'-.''.-s'