Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-05
without. our industries and our copl:
snies Here Before War.

Indeed, 1t is now evident that It's
spies were here even before the war
began; and it is unhappily not a mat
ter of conjecture, but a fact proved
In our courts of Justice that the In.
trigues which have more than onceS
come perilously near disturbing the
peace and dislocating the industries
Of the country have been carried on
at the instigation, with the support
and even under the personal direction
Of official agents OF the imperial Ger
mar government accredited to the
government of the United States.
Even in checking these things and
trying to exterpate them we have
sought to put the most generous in.
depreciation possible upon them be-
cause we knew that their ource lay,
not in any hostile feeling or purpose
Of the German people toward us (who
we're, no doubt, as ignorant Of them as
we ourselves were), but only in the
selfish designs Of a government that
did what it pleased and told it's people
nothing.
Played Their Part.
But they have played their part in
serving to convince us at last that
that government entertains no real
friendship for us and means to act
against u peace and security at It's
convenience.
That 1t means to stir up enemies
against us at our very doors the In.
tercepted note to the German minister
1t Mexico City is eloquent evidence.
Eve are accepting this challenge
Df hostile purpose because we know
that IN such a government, following
such methods, we car have q
ntend: and dfat in the presence Of It's
organized power, always lying In wait
10 accomplish we know not what pur-
pose, there can be no assured security
Tor the democratic governments OF the
world. We are now about to accept
the gage Of battle with this natural foe
to liberty and shall II necessary spend
the whole force Of the nation to check
and nullify It's ~pretensions and power.
I'VE are glad now that we see the
facts with no veil OF false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the ulti.
mate peace Of the world and for the
liberation Of its peoples, the German
peoples included, for the rights of ma
lions great and small, and the privi-
lege Of men everywhere to choose
their way of life and of obedience.
"The world must be made safe for
democracy. It's peace must be planted
upon the tested foundations Of politi-
cal liberty. We have no selfish ends
70 serve. We desire no conquest, no
dominion. We seek no indemnities
tor ourselves, no material compensa-
ton for the sacrifices we shall freely
make. We are but one of the cham.
pions Of the rights Of mankind.
1--WE shall be satisfied when those
rights have been made as secure as
the faith and the freedom of nations
can make. thann
JUST because we fight without ran
20 ard without selfish object, seek.
Ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free PEG.
pies. we shall, / feel confident, con-
duct our operations as b~elligerents
without passion and ourselves observe
with proud punctilio the principles Of
rigbs and of fair play we profess to be
lighting for.
have said nothing Of the govern
n,eliaa.s allied with the imperial govern
meal. Of Germany because they have
not made war upon US or challenged
US "a defend u right and our honor.
In Status Quo.
THE Acknowledgements government
has, indeed, vowed its unqualified en-.
doraement and acceptance Of the reck.
less and lawless submarine warfare
adopted now without disguise by the
Imperial German government and It
has therefore not been possible for
this government to receive Count Tar.
nowski, the ambassador recently &C.
credited to this government BY the
imperial and royal government OF Aus
.ria-Hungary. but that government has
not actually engaged in warfare
against citizens Of the United States
bn the seas, and take the liberty, for
The present at least. of postponing q
discussion OF u relations with the
authorities at Vienna. We enter this
war only where we are clearly forced
INTO It because there are no other
means Of defending our rights.
All Consideration Thrown Aside.
st will be all the easier Tor us ia
conduct ourselves as belligerenta Ii
! high spirit of right and fairness be
ssause we act without animus, not ID
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