The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-11-08

ana overwhelmed In the waters m ~,
same way. There has been no dis,
| elimination.
The challenge is TO all mankin d
| Each nation must decide for itself how
| it will meet it. The choice we max,
! for ourselves must be made with q
moderation OF counsel and a temper.
ateness OF judgment beftting oul
| character and our motives as a nation
| We must put excited feelings away
! our motive Will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might of the nation. but only the vim
dication OF right. of human right, OF
which we are only a single champion
When | addressed the congress on
the Goth of February last thought II
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms our right TO use the seas
against unlawful Interference, our RICH
TO keep our people safe against unInv-
full violence. But armed neutrality. IL
now appears, is impracticable. because
submarines are I'm effect outlaws, when
use AS the German submarines have
been used against merchant shipping,
IL lis impossible to defend ships against
their attacks as the law of nations has
assumed thnt merchantmen would de-
fend themselves against privateerS or
cruisers, visible craft giving chase up
on the open sea. 1t is common pru-
dence In such circumstances. grim nee
essty indeed to endeavor to destroy
them before they have shown their own
intention. They must be dealt with up
on sight, n dealt with ut all.
The German government denies the
right OF neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas OF the sea which II
has prescribed even in the defense OF
rights which no modern publicist has
ever before questioned their right to
defend. The intimation Is conveyed that
the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale OF law and
subject TO be dealt with as pirates
would be. Armed neutrality is ineffec-
tuaI enough nj be-ti In such circum-
stances md In the face of such prcten-
aIons ~ In worse than iDefectuR1i II In
likely only 10 produce what II was
mennt 60 prevent; II IN practically GER
tain to draw us into war without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bel
lIRcrents. There II one choice we can
not make, we nre Incapable of mnkinEi
We will not choose the pnth of submts-
sion and suffer the most sacred rights
Of our nation and our people 10 be ig-
nored or violated The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are no
roots OF human life.
with profound sense Of the solemn
and even tragIcaI character of the step
I am taking and OF the grave RESPONSE
bititIes which IL involves, but In un
hesitating obedience to what ] deem
my constitutional duty. I advise that
the congress declare the recent course
Of the Imperial German government TO
be in fact nothing less than war
against the government and people OF
the United States; that Ii formally ac-
cept the status Of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon IT. and that It
take immediate steps not only to put
the country In a more thorough state
Of defense. but also to exert all its
power and employ all its resources to
bring the government Of the German
empire TO terms and end the war
What this Will involve Is clear. 1t
Will involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation In counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many and az incident to that, the eX-
tension to those governments Of the
most liberal financial credits, in order
that our resources may so far as pos
sible be added to theirs.
II will involve the organization aud
mobilization OF all the material re
sources Of the country to supply the
materials 81 war and serve the Incl
dental needs Of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible
1t Will involve the immediate full
equipment Of the navy in all respects
but particularly In supplying 1t with
me best means Of dealing with the enc
rs submarines.
n viii involve the immediate add
ton 20 the armed forces Of the United
states. already provided for by law In
case ~ war, OF at least 500 900 men.
who should In my opinion be chosen
upon the principle Of universal liabil-
ity to service and also the authorize
tlon Of subsequent additional mere
ments ~ equal force so soon as they
may be needed and can he handled In
training
II win Involve also, of course, the
granting of adequate credits 10 the
government, sustained, hope, so far
nz they cnn equitnbIy he sustained by
the present generation, by well-coD-
celycd taxation.
shy sustnincd 40 far rs mny he
equitable by taxation, because II seems
90 me that II would he most unwlse 10
base the credits, which will now he
necessary, entirely ON nancy borrowed.
10 IN our duty. l most respectfully urge,
nay, ngninst the very serious hard
ships and evils which would he likely
10 arise out 81 the imitation which would
he produced by vast Ionns.
In cnrrying out the measures by
which these things nre to he accom-
piished we should keep constantly In
mind the wisdom of interfering ns III
tie rs possible In our own preparation
aud In the equipment of our own mill
A.
he n very practical duty-cs supplying
the nations already at war with Ger
mRny with the materials which they
can obtain only from us or ny our nS-
sistnnCr. They nre In the nrId and We
should help them in every why 10 he
effective there.
shall take the liberty OF suggest
Ing, through the several executive de-
pnrtmcnts Of the government for the
consideration of your committees,
measures for the accomplishment Of
the several objects have mentioned.
Z hope that n will he your pleasure to
deal with them as having been framed
after very cnrcful thought by the
branch Of the government upon whom
the responsibility of conducting the
wnr md safeguarding the milton will
most directly fall.
while we do these things, these deep
~ momentous things, let us he very
clear, and make very clear 60 all the
world, whnt our motives and our OBJ
lrcts nrr. NY own thought Inns not
been driven from Its babitunI and nor
NAL course by the unhappy events OF
the last two months, md I do not be-
ileNe that the thought of the nation
Inns been altered or clouded by them. !
have eNnctIy the same things Ia mind
now that I had In mind when I nd
dressed the pcnnte ON the 22d Of Janu-
nry In-tt the same that Ind In mind
when ! addressed congress on the I'd Of
February mud on the 2dth Of February.
our object now. Ms then, IL 60 VtndIcnte