Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-11-08

ase - the Gernan snubnrrfnee- have
been used against nereAanf shIpp1nx.
II Is impossible to defend ships against
their attacks. ~ the law of nations has
assume6 that merchantmen would de-
TEND themselves Against prfvafeers
erui.ers, Visible craft giving chase mp
On the open 1t is common pru-
oence IN such circumstances. grim nee
essity indeed. to endeavor to destroy
them before they have shown their own
intention They must he dealt with mp
ON sight. II dealt with Mt all.
The German government denies the
right OF neutrals to use arms at all
mas prescribed even in the defense of
rights which no modern publicfst 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 In inenec-
tual enough ut best, In such circum-
stances and in the face of such preten-
sions 1T II worse than inenectual, 1t is
meant to prevent, 1t Is practically GER
tnln to draw into war without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bell
hgerents. There is one choice we cam
not make, Incapable of makinEs
We will not choose the path of submfs-
sion and suffer the most sacred rights
of our nation and our people to be ig
nored or violated The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are NO
common wrongsy they cut to the very
roots of human life.
With d profound sense of the solemn
and even tragfcal character of the step
L am taking and of the grave resp0nsi-
bilities which 1T involves. but in un-
hesitatfng obedience to what I deem
my constitutional duty. 1 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 it formally
cept the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon 1T. and that 1T
take immediate steps not only to put
the country in a more thorough state
of defense. but also tie exert all its
power and employ all it's 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 as incident to that, the eX
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits. In order
that resources may so far as pos
sib1e be added to theirs.
1t will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources 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.
1t will involve the Immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects.
but particularly in supplying 1T with
the best means of dealing with the enc
my's submarines.
1t will involve the Immediate addf-
ton to the armed forces of the United
States. already provided for by law in
case of war. of at least 100000 men,
who should. in my opinion, be chosen
upon the principle of universal labil-
| ity to service, and also the authorize
ton of subsequent additional incre-
ments of equal force they
may be needed and can be handled in
| training.
1t Will involve also, of course, the
| granting of adequate credits the
| government, sustained, 1 hope, far
| as they can equitnbly Be sustained by
| the present generation, by well-cOn-
cefved taxation.
say sustained far maybe
equitable by taxation, because 1t seems
| to me that 1t would be most unwfse to
base the credits, which will be
necessary, entirely ON money borrowed.
1t In our duty, most respectfully urge,
| to protect our people, 80 far N we
may, against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
| to arise out of the imitation which would
he produced by vast loans.
In carrying ont the measures by
| which these things are to be accom-
plished we should keep constantly I'm
| mind the wisdom of interfering n lit
tie possible I'm our own preparation
/ and I'm the equipment of our own mill
tary forces with the duty-fOr 1t will
be a very practical duty-Of supplying
1 the nations already at war with Ger
many with the materials which they
| can obtain only from or by our as
| sistance. They are I'm the Held, and we
| should help them In every way to be
| effective there.
shall take the liberty of su&Eest-
| Ing, through the several executive de-
partments of the government, for the
| consideration of your committees,
| measures for the accomplishment of
| the several objects L have mentioned.
| I hope that 1t will be your pleasure to
| deal with them having been framed
| branch of the government upon whom
| the responsibility of conducting the
| war and safeguarding the nation will
\ most directly fall.
| while we do these things, these deep
| IL momentous things, let be very
| world. what our motives and our OBJ
| iecfs are. My own thought Inns not
| been driven from its habituaI and nor
| NAL course by the unhappy events OF
the last two months, and do not be-
lieye that the thought of the nation
has been altered or clouded by them.
| have exactly the same things i'm min
| now that 1 had I'm mind when ad-
| dressed the senate ON the 2Zd of Janu-
ary last; the same that L had In mind
| when L addressed congress on the 80 OF
| February and the z6th of February,
Our object now, az then, il to vfndfcate
| the principles of peace and justice In
| the life or the world against selfish
| and nutocratfc power, and to set up
| among the really free and self-gOv-
| cert of purpose and of action ms will
heuceforth insure the Observance OF
i those principles.
Neutrality IL NO longer feasible OF
derfrebIe where the peace of the world
Is Involved and the freedom of its peo-
tn hi m