The Ely miner., 1917-11-09

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 ID neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility of making.
On the Sd OF February last officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the 1st
day OF February it was its purpose to
put aside all restraints of law or of hu-
manity and use it's 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
enemies Of Germany within the Medi-
terranean. That had seemed to be the
OBJECT or the German submarine war
fare 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
ity with its promise. then given to us,
that passenger boats should not be
sunk, and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which it's
submarines might seek to destroy,
when no resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least fair
chance to save their lives I'm their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meager and hnphazard enough, as was
proved I'm distressing instance after
instance in the progress of the cruel
and unmaniy business, but a certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind
whatever their nag, their character
Akxn. Ay.N- AInNr.
errand. have been ruthlessly 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 to the soreiy bereaved ard strick-
en- 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
of Identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack Of compassion or
OF principle.
was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would In fact
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had it's origin In the at
tempt to set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where no nation had right of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways 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 n
clear view, Mt least, of what the heart
and conscience of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity and
because 1t had no weapons which 1t
could use at sea except these, which
1t Is impossible to employ as it is en-
ploying 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 wanton and
wholesale destruction of the lives of
non-combatants men. women. and chill
dren. engaged I'm pursuits which have
always, even I'm the darkest periods of
modern history, been deemed innocent
and legitimate. Property can be paid
fort the lives of peaceful and innocent
people cannot be. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
1t Is q war against all nations. Amer
tcan ships have been sunk, American
lives taken, I'm ways which 1T has
stirred us very deeply to learn Of, but
the ships mad people of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk
and overwhelmed In the waters iH the
same way. There has been no dis
elimination.
The challenge is to all mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself how
st will meet it. The choice we make
for ourselves must be made with a
moderation of counsel and a temper
ateness of Judgment befitting our
character anQ 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 single champion.
When I addressed the congress on
the 26th of February last I thought it
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms. our right to use the seas
against unlawful interference, our right
to keep our people safe against unlaw-
full violence. But armed neutrality, it
now appears. is impracticable. Because