The Holly chieftain., 1917-04-06

course of the German government to
be in fact nothing less than war
against the government and people of
the United States; that it formally
accept the status of belligerent which
has thus been thrust upon it, and that
it take immediate steps not only to
put the country on a more thorough
state of defense. but also to exert all its
power and employ all its resources to
bring the governpent of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
Advises Cooperation With Allies.
What this viii involve is clear. II
will involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation In counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and. as incident to that, the ex-
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits, in order
that our resources may, so far as pos
sible, be added to theirs.
1t will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources of the country to supply the
materials Of war and serve the Incl
dental needs of the nation IN the most
abundant. and yet the most economi-
cal and efficient way possible.
1t will involve the immediate full
equipment OF the navy in all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means OF dealing with the en-
emy's submarines.
1t will involve the immediate addi-
tion to the armed forces of the United
States already provided for by law in
case Of war, at least 100000 men, who
should, in my opinion, be chosen upon
the principle Of universal liability to
service, and also the authorization of
subsequent additional increments of
equal foIee 30 soon as they may be
needed and can be handled in train.
ing.
1t will involve, of course, the grant
ing Of adequate credits to the govern
ments, sustained. hope, so far as they
can equitably be sustained, by the
present generation, by well-conceived
taxation. say sustained so far as
may be equitable by taxation because
1t seems to me that it would be most
unwise to base the credits which will
now be necessary entirely on money
borrowed.
1t is our duty, ! most respectfully
urge, to protect our people SO far as
we may against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
to arise out Of the initiation which
would be produced by vast loans.
Duty to Aid Nations Now in Field.
In carrying out the measures by
which these things are to be accom-
plished we should bear constantly in
mind the wisdom of interfering as lit
tie as possible in our own preparation
and in the equipment Of our own mill
tary forces with the duty-for it will
be very practical duty-of supplying
the nations already at war with Ger
many with the materials which they
can obtain only from us or by our as
sistance. They are in the field. and we
should. help them, in every way, to be
effective there
I shall take the liberty of suggest
ing, through the several executive de.
partments of the government, for the
consideration of your committees,
measures for the accomplishment OF
the several objects have mentioned
hope, that it will be your pleasure to
deal with them as having been framed
/
branch of the government upon which
the responsibility of conducting the
war and safeguarding the nation will
most directly fall
Would vindieate Principles of Justice
While we do these things, these
deeply momentous things, let us be
very clear and make very clear to all
the world what our motives and our
| objects are. My own thought has
not been driven from Its habitual and
normal course by the unhappy events
| OF the last two months, and do not
believe that the thought of the nation
has been altered or clouded by them.
have exactly the same things In
mind now that l had In mind when
| addressed the Senate on the 22nd Of
January last; the same that had in
mind when addressed the Congress
on the 3rd of February and on the 26th
of February.
Our object. now, as then, Is to vim.
dicate the principles of 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 as will henceforth insure the OBJ
servance. Of these principles.
| Neutrality is no longer feasible or
desirable where the peace Of the
world is involved and the freedom of
its peoples, and the menace to that
peace and freedom lies in the exist
ence Of autocratic governments
backed by organized force which is
controlled wholly by their will, not by
the will of their people. We have