The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-04-06

Gentleman of the Congress:
have called the Congress into extraordinary
session because there are serious, very serious,
choices of policyIo be made, and made Immediately,
which it neither right constitutonally per-
missible that should assume the responsibility of
making.
M On the 3rd of February last officially laid be-
fore you the extraordinary announcement of the I'M
peral German Government that and after the
Rrst day of February it was its purpose to put aside
all restraints Of law of humanity and use its sub
marines to sink every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports of Great Britain and ireland the
western coasts of Europe or any of the ports con-
trolled by the enemies of Germany within the Med
iterranean That had seemed to be the object of
the German submarine warfare earlier in the war,
but since April of last year the Imperial Govern
ment had somewhat restrained the commanders of
its undersea craft in conformity with its promise,
then given to u.s. that passenger boats should not be
sunk and that due warning would be given to all
other vessels which its submarines might seek to
destroy, when no resistance was offered or escape
attempted and care taken that their given
at least fair chance to their lives in their
open boats. The precautions taken were meagre
and haphazard enough, proved in distressing
instance after instance in the progress of the cruel
and unmany business, but certain degree of re-
straint was observed.
The new policy has swept every restriction
aside Vessels Of every kind, whatever their flag,
their character, their cargo their destination their
errand have been ruthlessy sent to the bottom with
out warning and without thought of help or mercy
for those on board the vessel Of friendly neutrals
along with those of belIigerents. Even hospital
ships and ships carrying relief to the sOrely be-
reaved 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 unmistakabe marks of
identity have been sunk with the same reckless
lack of compassion or of principle
| was for little while unable to believe that
such things would in fact be done by any Govern
ment that had hitherto subscribed to humane prac-
tees Of civilized nations. International law had its
origin in the attempt to set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the seas, where no
nation has right of dominion and where lay the
free highways of the world. By painful stage af-
ter stage has that law been built up, with meagre
enough results, indeed, after all accomplished
that could be accomplished, but always with clear
view at least of what the heart and conscience Of
mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German Govern
ment has swept aside, under the plea Of retaliation
and necessity and because it had no weapons which
possible to employ as it is employing them without
throwing to the wind all scrupes of humanity or of
respect for the understandings that were supposed
to undere the intercourse of the world.
| am not now thinking Of the loss of property
involved, immense and serious that is, but only
Of the wanton and wholesale destruction Of the lives
Of noncombatants, men, women, and children, en-
gagged in pursuits which have always, even in the
darkest periods of modern history, been deemed in
nocent and legitimate. Property can be paid for;
the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be.
The present German submarine warfare against
commerce is warfare against mankind
It is a war against all nations. American ships
have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways
which it has stirred 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 dis
elimination.
Challenge is to all mankind. Each nation must
decide for itself how it will meet it. The choice
make for ourselves must be made with a modera-
tion Of counsel and temperateness of judgment be-
fitting our character and our motives as nation
We must put excited feeling away. Our motive will
not be revenge or the victorious assertion Of the ply
sical might Of the nation, but only the vindcation
Of right of human right, of which we are only
single champion
When addressed the Congress on the 26th OF
February last thought that It would suffice to as
ser our neutral rights with arms, our right to use
the seas against unlawful interference our right
d keep our people safe against unlawful violence.
Bat armed neutrality, it now appears, is jmpractic
sble Because submarines are in effect outlaws,
3hen used as the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping il is impossible to
defend ships against their attacks as the law of ma
tions has assumed that merchantmen would defend
themselves against privateers or cruisers, visible
craft giving chase upon the open sea- II is com
mon prudence in such circumstances, grim necessity
indeed to endeavor destroy them before they have
shown their own intention They must be deals
...al. .,....,- nirht a dnnlt with nt all