The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-18
HOW THE WAR CAME TO AMER
ICA.
Continued from page II

menace to human liberties every
where must be utterly shorn Of it
power for harm.
For the evil it has effected hai
ranged far out of Europe-out upoI
the open seas, where it's submarines
in defiances Of law and the con
cepts Of humanity have blown w
neutral vessels and covered the
waves with the dead and the dying
men and women and children alike
Its agents have conspired agains,
the peace Of neutral nations every.
where, sowing the seeds of dissen.
sion, ceaselessly endeavoring by tor.
tuous methods of deceit, of bribery,
false promises, and intimidation, to
stir up brother nations one against
the other, in order that the Autoc-
racy might emerge triumphant from
the war.
All this we know from our own
experiences with the Imperial Gov
eminent. As they have dealt with
Europe, 80 they have dealt with us
and all mankind. And so out Of these
years the conviction has grown that
until the German Nation is Invested
Of such rulers democracy cannot be
safe.
There remained but one element
to confuse the issue. One other great
autocracy, the Government Of the
Russian Gear, had long been hostile
to free institutions; it had been a
stronghold of tyrannies reaching far
back into the past; and its presence
among the Allies had seemed to be
in disaccord with the great liberal
principles they were upholding in
this war. Russia had been a source
Of doubt. Repeatedly during the con-
flict liberal Europe had been start
led by the news of secret accord be-
tween the Kaiser and the Car.
But now at the crucial time for
our Nation, on the eve of our en-
trance into the war, the free men Of
all the world were thrilled and
aeartened by the news that the peo-
pie of Russia had risen to throw off
heir Government and found q new
democracy; and the touch Of free
1om in Russia lit up the last dark
phases Of the situation abroad. Here
indeed was a fit partner for the Lea
que of Honor. The conviction was
finally crystallized in American
minds and hearts that this war
across the sea was no mere conflict
dynasties but stupendous
.ivil war of all the world; a new
in the age-old war, the
,rize Of which is liberty. Here at last
vas struggle in which all who love
reedom have stake. Further neu-
rally on our part would have been
J crime against our ancestors, who
lad given their lives that we might,
'e free.
1.-THE world must be safe for de-
nocracy."
On the End of April, 1917, the /
President read to the new Congress
lis message, in which he asked the /
Of the Nation to de-
lare the existence Of state of war,
nd in the early hours of the 9th of |
April the House by an overwhelming
ote accepted the joint resolution
7hich had already passed the Sem
te:
Whereas the Imperial German
Government has committed repeat
d acts Of war against the Govern
lent and the people of the United
tates of America: Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and
louise of Representatives of the Uni
ID States of America in Congress
ssembled, That the state Of war be-
veen the United States and the I'm
erial German Government which
as thus been thrust upon the United
tates is hereby formally declared;
nd the President be, and he is here
Y, authorized and directed to en-
10y the entire naval and military
'rces of the United States and the
of the Government to
TRY on war against the Imperial
erman Government; and to bring
lie conflict to successful termina-
on all the resources Of the country
e hereby pledged by the Congress