Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-04-06

l
hope that 1t will be your pleasure I
deal with them as having been frame
after very careful thought by tn
branch OF the government upon whicl
the responsibility OF conducting tn
war and safeguarding the nation will
most directly fail.
While we do these things, thes'
deeply momentous things, let us b.
very clear. and make very clear to al
the world what our motives and oui
objects ere. My own thought has no
been driven from its habitual and nor
NAL course by the unhappy events o.
the last two months, and | do not be
lieye that the thought Of the nation
has been altered or clouded by them.
Il have exactly the same things In
mind now that | had In mind when
addressed the senate on the 22d OF
January last; the same that | had In
mind when | addressed the congress
on the Sd OF February and on the 26th
OF February Our object now, as then,
Is 10 vindicate the principles or peace
and justice in the life OF the world as
against selfish and autocratic power
and to set up amongst the really free
and self.governed peoples OF the world
such concert OF purpose and of ac-
ton ss win henceforth insure the OBJ
ssscEaaael OF those principles.
World Peace Involved.
Neutrality Is no longer reasonable
or desirable where the peace of the
world Is involved and the freedom of
It's peoples, and the menace to that
peace and freedom lies In the exist
ence OF autocratic governments back
ed by organized force which is con-
trolled wholly by their will. not by
the viii of their people. We have
seen the last OF neutrality in such cir
cumstances.
We are at the beginning of an age
Ia which 1t will be insisted that the
came standards OF conduct and of re-
sponsibility for wrong doing shall be
observed among nations and their gov
ernments that are observed among the |
individual citizens of civilized states.
We have no quarrel with the Ger
man people.
I'VE have no feeling towards them
but one OF sympathy and friendship.
II was not upon their impulse that
their government acted in entering
this war. Ii was not with their pre-
FiouH hiicWituEt VI approval.
IT was a war determined upon as
wars used TO be determined on in the
Did, unhappy days when peoples were
Nowhere consulted by their rulers and
wars were provoked and waged In the
interest of dynasties or OF little
groups of ambitious men who were ac-
,ustomed to use their fellowmen as
lawns and tools.
'-----~z---irfested With Spies.
"Sehgoverned nations do not fill
heir neighbor states with spies or set
he course of intrigue to bring about
ONE critical posture of affairs which
will give them an opportunity to strike
nd make conquest. Such designs can
10 successfully worked only under
over and whore no one has the right
o ask questions.
"Cunningly contrived plans OF decep-
lon or aggression. carried, 1t may be
rom generation to generation, can be I
'orked out and kept from the light {
My within the privacy of courts or
ehind the carefully guarded conf c
ences OF n narrow and privileged I
lass. They are happily impossible {
here public opinion commands and Q
assists upon full information concern !
lg all the nations affairs. =
"A steadfast concert for peace can .
ever be maintained except by a part :,
ership of democratic nations. No =
ltocratic government could be trusted
, keep faith within it or observe its
)venants. IL must be league OF
onor, a partnership of opinion. In
gue would eat its vitals away: the G
81 ~ IN al, nh
an what they would and render ac- n
'unt to no one would be a corruption r,
iated at it's very heart. Only free II
soples can hold their purpose and +,
eir honor steady to common end Il
Id prefer the interests of mankind h
any narrow interest of their own. n
Does not every American feel that G,
surance has been added to our hope n,
r the future peace of the world by w
o wonderful and heartenlng things
at have been happening within the n,
st few weeks In Russia? q,
Russia was known by those who N
lew Il best to have been always In n
e democratic at heart, In all the =,
al habits Of her thought, in all tho ~,
innate relationships OF her people a., a.,
nj spoke their natural instinct, their ~ ~
btual attitude towards life. ~
The autocracy that crowned the ~ ~
mmit OF her political structure. long .u
II had stood and terrible as was II
, reality OF its power, was not in ie
I Russian in origin. character. or pr
rpose; and now. II has been shaken an
and the great. generous Russian OF
ople have been added in all their
I've majesty and might to the forces be
IL are hghting for freedom In the ST
rid. for justice and for peace. Here he
a nc partner for league OF honor. tn
Never Our Friend. frc
One of the things that has served f-~~-'
convince us that the Prussian auto-I du
cy was not and could never be our |
md Is that from the very outset of vo
present war IL has filed our I'M ns
pecting communities and even our oh
ees OF government with spies and -.
criminal intrigues everywhere -
OF against our national unity OF Nv
neil. our peace within and without. 's'
industries and our commerce. se'