Connecticut western news., 1917-04-05

last of neutrality in such circumstances
 We have no quarrel with the German people. We have no feeling toward them but one of sympathy and friendship It was not upon their impulse that their gov ernment acted in entering this war. IL was not with their previous knowledge or approval.
 A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic gov ernment could be trusted to keep faith within it or observe it's covenants. It must be league of honor, a partnership of opinion. Intrigue would eat its vitals away, the plottings of inner circles who could plan what they would and render account to no one would he a corruption seated at its very heart. Only free peo- pies can hold their purpose and their hon. or steady to a common end and prefer the interests of mankind to any narrow in- terest of their own.
 Does not every American feel that as surance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the won derful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia?
 Accepts Hostile Challenge.
 One of the things that has served to convince us hat the Prussian autocrary was mo- and could never be our friend Is that from the very outset of the present war it has filled our unsuSpectng com munlIleS ana even our offices or govern. ment with spies and set criminal intrigueS everywhere afoot against our national un- ity of council. our peace within and with out. our industries and our commerce. and means to act against our peace and securities at its convenience. That It means to stir up enemies against us at our very doors the intercepted note to the German minister at Mexico City is elo- quent evidence.
 We are accepting this challenge of hos tile purpose because we know that in such a government following such methods we can never have a friend. and that in the presence of it's organized power. always lying in wait to accomplish we know not what purpose. there can be no assured security for the democratic governments of the world
 We are now about to accept a gauge Of battle with this natural foe to liberty and shall if necessary spend the whole force of the nation to check and nullify it's pre- tensions and power. We are glad. now that we see the facts with no veil of false pretense about them. to fight thus for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples the German peo- pie included; for the rights of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience
 The world must be made safe for de- mocracy. Its peace must be planted upon the trusted foundations of political ~lih- erty
 We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no con. t.uest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the cham pions of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been as secure as the faith and the freedom of the nation make them.
 have said nothing of the governments allied with the imperial government of Germany. because they have not made war upon us or challenged us to defend our right and our honor.
 We enter this war only where we are clearly forced into it. because there are no other means of defending our rights.
 Friend of German People. We are. let me say again. the sincere friends of the German people and shall desire nothing so much as the early re- establishment of intimate relations of mutual advantage between us. however hard it may be for them for the time be- ing to believe that this is spoken from our hearts.
 We shall happily still have an opportu- nifty to prove that friendship in our daily attitude and actions toward the millions of men and women of German birth and native sympathy who live amongst us and share our life, and we shall be proud to | prove itJtoward all who are in fact loyal | to their neighbors and to the government | m Ine hour or test. They are. most or | them, as true and loyal Americans as if they had never known any other fealty or | allegiance. They will be prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the | few who may be of a different mind and | purpose. If there should be disloyalty 1t will be | dealt with with firm hand of stern re- presson, but if it lifts It's head at all it | will lift 1t only here and there and with out countenance except from a Iawless 1 and malignant few.
 It Is a distressing and oppressive duty. gentlemen of congress, which I have per formed in thus addressing you. There are | 1t may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead of us. It is a fearful thing | 10 lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous | of all wars, civilization itself seeming to | be in the balance But the right is more | precious than peace and we shall fight for | the things which we have always carried | nearest our hearts-for democracy, for the | right of those who submit to authority to | have a voice in their own governments | for the rights and liberties of small na- tions. for a universal dominion of right by 1 bring peace and safety to all nations and | make the world itself at last free. | To such task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are | and everything we have, with the pride of | those who know that the day has come ! when America Is privileged to spend her | blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the