The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-11-10
Presidents war
MESSAGE CARBLED
Full Text Withheld From People
of Germany by Kaiser's
Government.
PASSAGES were SUPPRESSED
Report Of Wolff Telegraph Bureau,
Unofficial Mouthpieee Of Kaiser,
Shows Wilson's Address
Distorted.

Distorted.
The German people never had an OPP
portunity to read the full text of the
address delivered by President Wilson
before congress on April 2. 1917, in
which the president called upon con-
gress to declare the existence of the
state Of war then being waged upon
the United States by Germany. In the
copies of this address which were per
mjtted to be published In Germany,
many passages were suppressed. &C.
cording to the committee on public
Information Of the United States gov
eminent. The passages suppressed in
cl1ded those In which the president
told why the United States had been
forced to enter into the war against
Germany In protection of its rights and
In order to make the world safe for
democracy.
The committee on public information
has issued copy Of the presidents
address, showing the passages which
were suppressed by the Wolff Tele-
graph bureau. which is under govern
nDent censorship and has been consist
emily employed by the German govern
ment for the PRONUNCIATION of Its Off
cial opinions. The following is an Of
fetal copy Of the presidents address
With the passages suppressed by the
Woiff Telegraph bureau shown In bold
faced type:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
] have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious. very serious choices of policy to
be made. and made Immediately, which
IL 10 neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility Of making.
On the Sd Of February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement Of the Imperial German
government that on and after the LIST
day OF February II was its purpose to
pot aside all restraints Of law or Of hu-
manity and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports Of Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts OF Europe
or any OF the ports controlled by the
terranean. That had seemed to be the
object Of the German submarine war
rare earlier In the war. but since April
Of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders OF its undersea craft in conform
fty with Its promise. then given to ms.
that passenger boats should not be
sunk. and that due warning would be
given ca all other vessels which its
~ marines might seek to destroy,
when no resistance was offered or es-
---eape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given ut least fair
chance 70 save their lives In their open
boats. The precautions taken were
nesEer and haphaxnrd enough. as was
proved In distressing Instance after
instance In the progress Of the cruel
ana unmanly business, but n certain de-
0ree Of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
stSiction aside. Vessels of every kind.
whatever their nag. their character
their cargo. their defamation. their
errasd. have been ruthlessiy sent TO
the bottom without warning and with
out thought Of help or mercy for those
on board the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief 60 the serely bereaved and striek-
e. people Of Belgium. though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinguished BY unmistakable marks
81 identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack Of compassion or
OF principle.
was for . little while unable to
believe that such things would In fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices Of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had its origin In the Mt
tempt TO set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
dominion and where lay the free high
why's OF the world. BY painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
With meager enough results. indeed.
after all was accomplished that could
be accomplished. but always with q
clear view, ut least, OF what the heart
snd coincidence Of mankind demanded.
This minimum OF right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea Of retaliation and necessity and
because IL had no weapons which II
could use Mt sea except these. which
n IL impossible to employ II is en-
pioying them. without throwing to the
wind all scruples OF humanity or OF
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the inter
course OF the world
am not now thinking OF the loss OF
property involved. immense and serious
as that Is. but only OF the want m and
Wholesale destruction of the lives OF
nen-combatants. men. women and chill
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, even In the darkest periods OF
modern history. been deemed innocent
asd legitimate. Property can he paid
fart the livea of ueoce fuI and I'm mean
people cannot be. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
lisa warfare against mankind.
n Is a war against all nations. Amer
lean ships have been sunk, Americas
Hives taken, In ways which II has
stirred M very deeply 20 learn Of but
the ships nad people Of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk