Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-07
SONS OF ITALY URGED
T0STAND BY AMERICA
Grand Venerable of Order Points
Them to Their Duty to Land
of Their Adoption

The Grand Venerable Of the order Sons
of Italy, Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania, an
ltalian.AmcriCau organization which num-
bcrs many thousands of members not only
in this state, hut all over the country, and
which has already given good account of
itself on many occasions especially in the
work of educating Italian immigrants to
become efficient and loyal citizens of the
country of their adoption. has just launched
a proclamation to the nearly 700 lodges of
the state asking them to support President
Wilson in this momentous International sit
uaton The proclamation follows:
AS you have been already informed
through American and Italian newspapers,
to which the press of the whole world has
given support. President Wilson, tired of
the pertidious German policy and of the
continuous offeusCs to the dignity of his
country, has given the passports to AM
hassador Bcrnstorff. thus breaking the diplo-
matte relations with Germany.
"The history of recent years teaches that
once taking this preliminary step. the actual
conflict between the two countries is quite
inevitable. Thus this great republic docid-
edly takes the place her fate and her noble
traditions assigned to her in prompting her
to unsheath her sword in defense of the
liberties and the civilization of the world
and for the triumph of the law over savage
and brutal force.
Germany, with her fierce campaign of
submarines, with her systematic acts of
treason, with daily insdious acts, with
promises never kept has seriously dam
aged the interests of America and the lives
OF her citizens, and-has caused civilization
to go backward ten centuries. 1t was
therefore inevitable that sooner or later
President Wilson would be compelled tn
resort to an energetic act
you all remember Sons of Italy. the
,i,,.,y pf lp "a years
| ago while preaching peace secretly pre-
pared his army and navy for the war IN
| order to be ready for an unexpected at
| tack as soon as the moment seemed taNof-
able II was he who caused this fearful
| war i'm writing the Austrian ultmatum to
| Serbia in the mad hope of graspng, after
nassng over millions of bodies, the control
| of Europe and the world. But today, unable
to force into submission the formidable
| league which opposes his designs, he starts
| a movement for peace while continuing 10
| force into subjoction the generous Belgians
| and after the necessary refusal OF the
| Allies some of whom are Still bleeding
| through the fetocity of the modern huns
he seeks to place on their shoulders the
| responsibility for the continuation of the
| war.
| eft is necessary not to forget that when
| Canada decided to help Great Britain and
| the European Powers il was said That the
| Kaiser intended to mobilize his subjects
| living i'm the United States and ask them
| to inyate the Dominion Even TO-DAY, When
| the actual conflict between the United
States and Germany seems certain there ''
| talk of Germans here who are completely
| armed. of German organization, Of blue
| doWcrs which would be their sign OF recoghl
| tion. and there is even talk Of attempt tt
| provoke civil war
I'VE refuse to believe all this, though the
| bomb intended for the customs collector II
| New York ought to be a hint of what prop
ably is the purpose of some but we asF
| that nob1dy may forget that in the present
| circumstances there may be desperates wh'
| viii rcCede from nothing now that they SEE
| the victory run away from their armies
|, "Sons of Italy our duty today IN TINS
| serious moment for the generous country II
| which we live and is our fatherland OF adop
| tion Is to pledge ourselves, without rcser
! vation? Loyalty to support this Govern
ment to the extent of Offering our lives Il
| the United States. We must rise TO mar
| to uphold this country which generously
| enters the arena in defense of the people
| liberty, and II there is any truth In th'
| rumcIg of plots to hamper the resources o.
| the country we must do everything IN. oul
| power TO prevent any such attempt
| 81 ask that all and each of you hecom'
a tiroless prOpagandist of this falth amoht
ou. Italian brethren, 50 that all the ltallah'
uiignt prove their solidarity If the necessity
arises "a. JOSEPH DI SlLVESTHO'
"Grand Venerable of the order IN Iehh
sylvania."