El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-05
WHY IS NATION
/. Of j. 6. IN WAR?
Secy. Lane Tells All the
Causes Which Impelled
Nation To Fight.


OF the interior department in which
he answered the question: Why are
we fighting Germany"
America is at war" Mr.. Lane said
in self defence and because she could
not keep out; she is at war TO save
herself with the rest Of the world
from the nation that has linked itself
with the Turk and adopted the meth
Cd of Mahomet. setting itself 10 make
the world bow before policies backed
by its organized and scientific military
system.
1T is the duty Of all. their legal as
well as their patriotic duty, to regis
ter If within the class called. There
are some who have not clearly seen
the reason for that call. To these
would speak a word.
Why Are We Fightings
why are we fighting Germany?
The brief answer is that ours is war
of self defence. We did not wish TO
fight Germany. She made the attack
upon US: not on our shores. but on
our ships, our lives. our rights, our
future For two years and more We
held to a policy that made US apollo
gists for things which outraged mans
common sense Of fair play and hu-
uanity.
AT each new offense-the invasion
of Belgium, the killing of civilian Bel
gians, the attacks on Scarborough and
other defenceless towns. the laying OF
mines in neutral waters, the fencing
off of the seas-and on and on through
the months We said: This war is
archaic. uncivilized war, but war All
rules have been thrown away; all no
bility; man has come down to the
justify we will not intervene. II is
not our way
Could Not Keep Out.
Then why are we in? Because we
could not keep out The invasion Of
Belgium. which opened the war. led
10 the invasion of the United States by
slow steady. logical steps. Our sym
pathies evolved into a conviction Of
self interest Our love of fair play
ripened into alarm at our own peril
We talked in the language and IN
the spirit OF good faith and sincerity.
as honest men should talk until we
discovered our talk was construed as
cOwardice. And Mexico was called
upon 10 COW US. We talked as men
would talk who cared for peace and
the advancement of their own ma
terial interests. until we discovered
that we were thought 10 be nation
OF mere money makers, devoid Of all
character-until. indeed. we were told
that we could not walk the highways
OF the world without permission Of q
Prussian soldier, that our ships might
not sail without wearing a striped
Uniform OF humiliation, a narrow path
Of national subserTience. We talked
as men talk who hope for honest
agreement, not for war. until we
found that the treaty torn to pieces
II Liege was but the symbol Of a
policy that made agreements worth
less against a purpose that knew no
word but success.
50 W. ca In
And so We came into this war for
ourselves II is war to save America.
10 preserve self respect. to justify our
right to live as We have lived, not as
someone else wishes US 10 live In
the name Of freedom we challenge
with ships and men. money and IN
1aunted spirit, that word 'verboten.'
which Germany has written upon the
sea and upon the land
Belgium Invaded.
with this background of history
md in this sense, then. we fight Ger
Because Of Belgium invaded. out /
aged, enslaVed, impoverished Bel I
sium- We cannot forget Liege- Lou /
ain and Cardinal Mercier. Translated /
nto terms OF American history these 1
lames stand for Bunker Hill. Lexing- /
on and Patrick Henry.
France Deseerated.
Because o. France. invaded desc 1
rated France, q million Of whose 1
leroic sons have died TO save the 1
and Of lafayette. Glorious golden /
france, the preserver of the arts. the 4
oilow our lead into republican lib l
rty.
because Of England-from whom |
anne the laws, traditions, standards 4
Z life and inherent love Of liberty i
which we call Anglo-Saxon civili-
q rafa1Tad
and and once upon the sea. But Aus
ralia- New Zealand. Africa and
'anada are free because of what We
Id. And they are with US in the fight
or the freedom Of the seas.
New Russia Must Be Free.
Because Of Russia. new Russia She
lust not be overwhelmed now Not
ow surely, when she is just born into
reedom. Her peasants must have
heir chance; they must go to school.
D Washington, TO jefferson and to
lincoln. until they know their way
bout IN this new strange word. OF
overnment by the popular wtll- and.
Because Of other peoples, with their
lSing hope that the world may be
reed from government by the SOL
Ter.
ermany's Way Terrorism and Deceit.
I'VE are fighting Germany because
he sought to terrortze US and then
would do what she said she
'ould do upon the seas
We still hear the piteOus cry Of the
hildren coming out of the sea where
he Lusitania went down. And Ger
lany has never asked forgiveness Of
be world.
I'VE saw the Sussex sunk. crowded
nth the sons Of daughters Of neutral
ations.
we saw ship after ship sent to the
ottom-ships of mercy bound out of
-merica for the Belgium starving
hips carrying the Red Cross and
aden with the wounded of all nations
ships carrying food and clothing to
harmless, terrorized people
hips flying the Stars and Stripes
ent to the bottom hundreds of miles
rom shore. manned by American sea
len, murdered against all law, with
u warning.
Germany Was TreacherOus.
I'VE believed Germany's promise
hat she would respect the neutral
lag and the rights of neutrals. and
re held our anger and outrage in
gliding US off with fair promises IN
Il she could build her huge fleet of
For when spring came
he blew her promise into the air. Just
s at the beginning she had torn up
he scrap Of paper.
4lCA y saw Greatly there was
ut one law for Germany, her will to
ule-
I'VE are fighting Germany because
he violated our confidence. Paid Ger
ian spies filled our cities. Officials
( her government. received as guests
Z this nation. lived with us to bribe I
nd terrorize, defying our law and the
Nv Of nations
Tried 10 Provoke Enemies.
I'VE are fighting Germany because