The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-04-04
PRESIDENT CALLS TO AMERICA
(Continued from Page One)

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 which we are only
a single champion.
Submarines are Outlaws.
when l addressed the congress on
the 26th of February last, thought
that it would suffice to assert our neu-
trail rights with arms, our right to
use the seas against unlawful inter-
safe against unlawful violence.
But armed neutrality, it now ap-
pears is impracticable. Because sub
marines are in effect outlaws when
used as the German submarines have
been used against merchant shipping
it is impossible to defend ships against
their attacks. as the law OF nations
has assumed that merchantmen would
or cruisers, visible craft giving chase
upon the open sea. 49,
st is common prudence in such
circumstances, grim necessity, indeed,
to endeayor to destroy them before
they have shown their own intentions.
They must be dealt with upon sight II
dealt with at all.
Refused Right to Arm.
1.-THE German government denies
the right of neutrals to use arms at
all within the areas Of the sea which
it 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
o,,I ,y,l,s ,I,
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 inef-
fectual enough at best. In such Cir
cumstances and in the face of such
pretensions lit is worse than ineffec-
tual: it is likely only to produce what
it Was meant to prevent; it is prac-
ftica!ly certain to draw us into the war
without either the rights OF the eff
fectiveness Of belligerents:
There is One choice we cannot
make, we are Incapable OF making;
we will not choose the path OF sub
mission and suffer the most sacred
rights of our nation and our people
to be ignored or violated. The wrongs
against which we now array ourselves
are no common wrongs. They cut to
the very, roots of human life.
Must Accept Responsibility.
with a profound sense Of the sol
emn and even tragical character OF
the step am taking and of the grave
responsibilities which it involves, but
in unhesitating obedience to what I
deem my constitutional duty, advise
that the congress declare the recent
course of the imperial German gov
eminent to be in fact nothing less
than war against the government and
people OF the United States; that it
formally accepts the status of bellig-
erent 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 powers and employ all its
resources to. bring the government Of
the German empire to terms and end
the war. n '
Course We Must Pursue.
HI involve IS clear 1t
will involve. the utmost practical co.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and as 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.
1T will; involve the organization
and mobilization of all the material
resources OF the country to supply the
materials Of war and serve the Incl
dental needs of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
ut will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means OF dealing with the
enemy's submarines. "
Army of 100000 Men. ...
at will involve the immediate adj
ditien to the armed force of the
United States already provided for by
law in case Of war at least 100000
men, who should, in my opinion, be
chosen upon the principle OF universal
liability to service, and also the
authorization of subsequent additional.
increments Of equal force SO soon as
they may be needed and can be han
died in training. r So
Financing Of the Plans.
1T will involve, also, of course the
granting }of adequate credits to the
government, sustained, ! hope, so Tar
as they can equitably be- sustained
by the present generatioil,% by we'll
conceived taxation. .anf @->r'. !
II say sustained so far as may be
equitable by taxation becaue it seems
to me that it would be most unwise
to base the credits which will now be
necessary entirely on money bor-
rowed. 1t is our duty, most respect
fully urge, to protect our people, SO
far as we may, against the very seri-
Gus hardships and evils which would
be likely to arise out OF the imitation
which would be produced by vast
loans. .E
Must Supply the Allies.
"In carrying out the measures by
which these things are to be accom-
plished we should keep constantly in
mind the wisdom of interfering as
little as possible in our own prepare
tion and in the equipment of our own
military forces with the duty-for it
will be very practical duty-of sup
plying the nations already at war with
Germany with the materials which
they can obtain only from us or by
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