Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-04-06
The United States And Germany
At War,


last The House reelected Hon. Champ
Clark Speaker. President Wilson addressed
congress Monday night on the unfriendly
relation existing between the United States
and Germany. On Wednesday the Senate
declared in resolution, passed by vote
OF az to 6. that state of war exists
between this country and Germany. Sena-
tors Gronna, La Toilette. Lane. Norris, Stone
and Vardaman voted in the negative. The
House began discussion of the resolution
on thursday morning. which is to continue
until action is taken. The resolution will
hnally pass by large majority, and then
the country will be at war.
The Presidents notable address in full is
as follows:
i have called Congress into extraordi-
nary session because there are serious.
very serious choices Of policy to be made
and made Immediately, which il was
neither right nor constitutionally permissi-
DIE that should assume the responsibility
Of making.
-on the third Of February last, officially
lad before you the extraordinary announce
ment OF the Imperial German Government
that on and after the first day of February
1t was its purpose to put aside all restraints
Oh La" Of humanity and use its submarines
10 SINK every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports Of Great Britain and Ire
iand or the western coast Of Europe or any
OF the ports controlled by the enemies Of
Germany within the Mediterranean. That
mad seemed to be the object Of the German
submarine warfare earlier in the war. but
since April Of last year the Imperial Gov
eminent had somewhat restrained the
commanders Of its undersea craft in CON-
iormlty with its promise then given to us
that passenger boats should not be sunk
and that due warning would be Given IN
all other vessels which its submarines might
seek to destroy, when no resistance wa,
offered or escape attempted. and care taken
that their crews were given at least a fair
chance to save their lives in their open
boats. The precautions taken were meaere
and haphszard enough. as was proved in
distressing instance after instance in the
progress Of the cruel and unmanly bust
ness. but certain degree of restraint was
observed
The new policy has swept every restric-
ton aside. Vessels Of every kind, what
ever their flag. their character, their des
tination, their enend, have been ruthIessly
sent to the bottom without warning. and
without thought Of help or mercy for those
on board, the vessels Of friendly neutrah
along with those Of belliserents. Even
hospital ships and ships carrying relief to
the sorely bereaved and stricken people Of
Belgium, though the latter 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
Il was for a little while unable to be-
lieve that such things would In fact be
done by any government that had hitherto
subscribed to the humane practices Of civ
ilized nations. International law had its
origin in the attempt to set up some law.
which would be respected and observed
from the seas. where no nation had right
Of dominion and where lay the free hieh-
ways Of the world. By painful STAGE after
stage has that law been built up with
meaere enough results indeed, after all
was accomplished that could be accom-
plished, but always with a clear view. at
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 be-
cause il had no weapons which il could
use at sea except these. which it is i'm
possible TO employ as 1t is employing them
without throwing to the winds all scruples
OF humanity or Of respect for the under
standings that were supposed to underle
the intercourse Of the world.
Il am not now thinking of the loss of
property involved. immense and serious as
that is, but only Of the wanton and whole
sale destruction Of the lives of non-com-
batants-men. women and children, en-
Gagged in pursuits which have always. even
in the darkest periods Of modern history.
been deemed innocent and legitimate.
Property can be paid for: the lives Of
peaceful and innocent people cannot be.
THE present German submarine warfare
against commerce is a warfare AGAINST
mankind. Ii is a war against all nations.
American ships have been sunk, American
lives taken, in ways which il has stirred us
very deeply to learn Of. but the ships and
people of other neutral and friendly nations
have been sunk and overwhelmed in the
waters in the same way. There has been no
discrimination. The challenge is to all
mankind. Each nation must decide for
itself how 1t will meet it. The choice we
make for ourselves must be made with a
moderation Of counsel and a temperate
ness Of judgment BETTING our character
and motives rs a nation.
We must put excited feeling away.
Our motive will not be revenge or the VIC
torious assertion Of the physical might Of
the nation. but only the vindication Of
right, Of human right. Of which we are only
a single champion.
When addressed the Congress on the
26th Of February last. thought that 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 unlawful violence. |
But armed neutrality. it now appears, is
impracticable. Because submarines are in
effect outlaws when used as the German
submarines have been used against mer-
chant shipping 1t is impossible to defend
ships against their attacks. as the law of