Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-26

usual length of time to assemble and
organize the congress which Is to sue
ceed 1t.
Asks For Authority
Il feel that / ought, in view of the
fact, obtain from you full and immedi-
ate assurance of the authority which
may need at any moment to exercise.
No doubt already possess that powe.
without special warrants of war, by
the plain implication Of my constitu-
tional duties and powers; but | prefer
in the present circumstances not to
act upon general implications. ! wish
to feel that the authority and the
power of the congress are behind me
in whatever it may become necessary
for me to do We are jointly the SER
wants of the people and must act to-
gether and in their spirit insofar as
we can devine and interpret it.
Says Duty Is Plain.
NO one doubts what it is our duty
to do. We must defend our commerce
and the lives of our people in the
midst of the trying circumstances with
discretion but with clear and steadfasl
purpose. Only the extent remains to
be chosen if occasion should arise.
Since 1t has unhappily proved i'm
possible to safeguard our neutral
rights Of diplomatic means against un-
warranted infringements they are suf-
fering there may be no recourse but to
armed neutrality, which we shall know
how to maintain and for which there
is abundant American precedpt.
Seeks to Avoid War.
1T is deyoutly to be hoped that it
will not be necessary to put armed
forces anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire 1t and
/ am sure they will understand the
spirit in which am not acting. the
purpose l am holding nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit In everything
do. I am anxious that the people at
war also should understand. l hope 1
need give no further proofs and assur-
ance that l have already given thruout
three years Of anxious patience that l
am the friend Of peace and mean to
preserve it so long 4s am able. l am
not now proposing nor contemplating
war nor any steps that lead to it. l
merely request that you will accord to
me by your own vote and definite be-
stoWal the means and the authority to
safeguard in practice the right OF a
great people who are at peace and who
are desirous Of exercising none but the
rights of peace to follow the pursuit Of
peace in quietness and good will
rights recognized time out of mind by
all the civilized nations Of the world
No course of my choosing or Of theirs
r,,J
by wilful acts and aggressions of 9TH
erS.
ea Promises Prudence.
"You will understand why 7 will
make no definite proposal now, and
must ask Your support in the most gen.
eral terms. The form in which action
may become necessary can not yet be
foreseen. believe that the people will
be willing to trust me to act with re-
straint. with prudence and in the true
spirit Of amity and good faith that they
have themselves displayed thruout
these trying months and it Is in that
belief that request that you will au-
thorize me to supply our merchant
ships with defensive arms should that
become necessary. and to employ any
other Observation-Disclosures that may be
necessary and adequate to protect our
ships and our people on the legitimate
pursuits on the seas.
II request you also that you will
grant me at the same time, along with
the powers ask, q sufficient credit to
enable me to provide ample means Of
protection including adequate insur-
ance against the present war risks.
Rights Of Humanity
"I have spoken OF our commerce and
of the legitimate errands Of our people
on the seas, but You will not be misled
as to my main thought. the thought
that lies beneath these phrases and
gives the dignity and weight 1t is
not Of material interest merely that we
are thinking. It is, rather. Of funda-
mental human rights, chief Of all the
right Of life itself. l am thinking not
only Of the rights Of Americans to go
and come about their proper business
by way OF the seas. but also Of some-
thing much deeper. / am thinking Of
those rights Of humanity without
which there Is no conviction. My
theme Is Of those great principles OF
compassion and protection which man
kind has sought to throw about human
lives, the lives Of non combatants the
lives Of men busy at work keeping the
Industrial processes OF the world quick
and vital, the lives Of women and chill
dren. am speaking Of no selfish ma
terial rights. but the rights which our
hearts support and whose foundation
is righteous passion for Justice upon
which all law, all structures alike Of
family and state, must rest as on the
ultimate basis OF our existence and lib
.erty. can not Imagine any man Of
America hesitating to defend these