Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-07-05
HOW THE WAR CAME TO AMERICA
CONTINUED from page IL

Continued from page L.
by Germany as early as by England, the
German controversy was infinitely more
serious.
But our principal controversy with
the German Government, and the one
which rendered the situation at once
acute, rose out of their announcement
of sea zone where their submarines
would operate in violation of all ac-
cepted principles of international law.
Our Indignation at such threat was
soon rendered passionate by the sink
ing of the ,Lusitania. This attack upon
our rights was not only grossly illegal;
it defied the fundamental concepts of
humanity. Aggravating restraints on
our trade were grievances which could
be settled by litigation after the war,
but the wanton murder of peaceable
men and of innocent women and chfi-
dren, citizens of nation with which
Germany was at peace, was crime
against the civilized world which could
never be settled in any court.
We were compelled to recognize from
time to time evidences of bad faith on
the part of the German Imperial govern
ment. Honest efforts of ours to estab
lish basis of friendliness were met
with bubbles, Misrepresentation and
counter accusations against their enc
mics abroad. While expressing cor
dial friendship for the American people,
the German government had its agents
at work in both Latin America and
Japan. They were melting to insurrec-
ton in Cuba, Hayti, and in Santo Dom
lingo; their hostile hand was stretched
out to take the Danish Islands; and
everywhere in South America they were
sowing seeds of dissention trying to
stir up one nation against another and
all aginst the United States. In the
sum these various actions amounted to
direct assault on the Monroe Doctrine.
In the new year of 1917, as though
our acceptance of world responsibilities
so plainly indicated in the President Is
utterances in regard to a league of
nations, we felt ourselves now drawing
nearer to a full accord with the pow
ers of the entente; and as on the other
hand we found ourselves more and more
outraged at the German Government IS
methods Of conducting warfare and their
brutal treatment of people in their con
quered lands; as we more and more un-
covered their hostile intrigues against
the peace of the New World; and above
ALL as the sinister and mtidemocratic
ideals of their ruling class became man
| ifest in their manoeuvers for peace of
conauest-the Imperial German Govern
ment abruptly threw aside the mask.
On the last day of January, 1917
Count Bernstorff handed to Mr.. Lans
ing note in which his Government an
nounced it's purpose TO intensity ano
render more ruthless the operations OF
their submarines at sea, in manner
against which our Government had pro
tested from the beginning. The Ger
man Chancellor also stated before the
Imperial Diet that the reason this ruth
less policy had not been earlier employed
was simply because the Imperial Govern
ment had not then been ready to act
In brief, under the guise of friendship
and the cloak of false promises, it hat
been preparing this attack
This was the direct challenge. There
was no possible answer except to hanC
their ambassador his passports and Sc
have done with diplomatic correspon
dence which had been vitiated from the
start by the often proved bad faith OF
the Imperial Government.
But now at this crucial time for oul
Nation, on the eve of our entrance into
the war, the free men of all the worlC
were thrilled and heartened by the new
that the people of Russia had risen II
throw off their Government and foun.
a new democracy; and the torch of free
dom in Russia lit up the last dark phases
Of the situation abroad. Here lndeet
was a fit partner for the League OF
Honor. The convection was final,
crystallized in American minds ant
hearts that this war across the sea wa
no mere conflict between dynasties blu
a stupendous civil war of all the world
new campaign in the age-old war
the prize of which is liberty. Here a
last was struggle in which all whit
love freedom have stake. Furhte
neutrality on our part would have beer
crime against our ancestors, who hat
given their lives that we might be free
"The world must be made safe TO
democracy
On the I'd of April, 1917, the rresi
dent read the the new Congress hi
message, in which he asked the Repre-
sentatives of the Nation to declare tht