The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-03

began; and it is unhappily not a mat
ter of conjecture but a fact proved in
our courts of justice that the intrigueS
which have more than once come per-
iliously near to disturbing the peace
and disturbing the industries of the
country have been carried on at the
instigation, with the support and even
under the personal direction of Of
fetal agents of the imperial govern
ment accredited to the government
of the United States.
German Govt Hostile to Q. S.
Even in checking these things and
trying to extirpate them we have
sought to put the most generous inter-
probation possible upon them but we
know their source lay, not in any hos
tile feeling or purpose of the German
people towards us-who were. no
doubt as ignorant of them as we our
selves, were-but only the selfish de-
signs of government that did what
it pleased and told it's people nothing.
But they have played their part in
serving to convince us at last that that
government entertains no real friend
ship for us and means to act against
our peace and security at its conven-
fence. That it means to stir up enc
mics against US at our very doors the
intercepted note of the German min
isters at Mexico City is eloquent evil
dence.
Whole Force of Z. S. Into War.
I'VE are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
in such a government following such
methods we can never have a friend;
and that in the presence of its organ-
lied power, always lying in wait to
accomplish we know not what purpose.
there can be no assured security for
the democratic governments of the
world. We are now about to accept
the gauge of battle with this natural
foe to liberty, and shall, if necessary
spend the whole force of the nation to
check and nullify its pretensions and
its power.
1--WE are 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 it's peoples, the German
peoples included; for the rights of ma
tons great and small and the privilege
of men everywhere to choose their
way of life and of obedience. The
world must be made safe for democ-
racy.
1T peace must be planted upon the
tested foundations of political liberty.
We have no selfish ends to serve. We
desire no conquest, no dominion. We
seek no indemnities for ourselves, no
material compensation for the sacri-
fees we shall freely make. We are
but one of the champions of the rights
of mankind. We shall be satisfied
when those TlEnlS nave Deen IndQe as
secure as the faith and the freedom of
nations can make them.
Just because we fight without ran
cor and without selfish object, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo-
pies, we shall, 1 feel confident, con-
duct our operations as belligerents
without passion and ourselves observe
with proud punctilio the principles of
right and of fair play we profess to
be fighting for.
No Quarrel With Austria.
81 have said nothing of the govern
ments allied with the imperial gov
eminent of Germany because they
have not made war upon US or chal-
lenged us to defend our right and ou-
honor. The Austro-Hungarian gov
eminent has indeed, avowed its I'M
qualified endorsement and acceptance
of the reckless and lawless subma-
rine warfare adopted now without dis
guise by the imperial German govern
ment and it has therefore not been
possible for this government to receive
Count Tarnowski, the ambassador re-
| Gently accredited to this government
| by the imperial and royal govern.
ment of Austria Hungary, but that
government has not actually engaged
| in warfare against citizens of the
| United States on the seas, and l take
the liberty. for the present at least.
| of postponing discussion of our re-
lations with the authorities at Vienna
| We enter this war only where we are
t clearly forced into 1t because there
are no other means of defending our
! rights.
No Enmity Towards Any People.
| 1T will be all the easier for us to
conduct ourselves as belligerents in n
high spirit of right and fairness be-
cause we act without animus, not in
enmity toward a people or with the
! desire to bring any injury or disad-
vantage upon them. but only in arm
ed opposition to an irresponsible gov
erament which has thrown aside all
| considerations of humanity and of
right and is running amuck.
we are. let me say again, the sin
! cere friends of the German people and
shall desire nothing SO much as the
early re-esta bIishment of intimate re-
lations of mutual advantage between
us-however hard it may be for them
for the time being. to believe that this
is spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
thru all these bitter months because
of that riendship-exercising a pa
thence and forbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
Friendly to Germans in u. S.
1--WE shall, happily, still have an OPP
portunity to prove that friendship in
our daily attitude and actions toward
the millions of men and women of
German birth and native sympathy
who live amongst us and share our
life, and we shall be proud to prove
it towards all who are in fact loyal
to their neighbors and to the govern
ment in the hour of test. They are
most of them as true and as loyal
Americans if they had never known
any other fealty or allegiance
They will be prompt to stand with
us in rebuking and restraining the
few who may be of a different mind
and purpose. If there should be dis
| loyalt, it will be dealt with with
| stern repression; but. If it lifts its
head at all it will lift it only here and
there and without countenance except
from a lawless and malignant few. It