The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-04-12

ehdI IL Woulu suffice 10 assert our
neutrality rights with arms, our right
to use the seas against unlawful inter
ference; our right to keep our people
safe against unlawful violence. But
armed neutrlity, it now appears, is
impracticable. Because submarines
are in effect outlaws when used as
the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping, it is
impossible to defend ships against
their attacks as the law of nations
has assured that merchantmen would
defend themselves against privateers
or cruisers, visible craft giving chase
upon the high seas. 1t is common
prudence in such circumstances,
grim necessity indeed, to endeavor to
destroy them before they have shown
their own intention. They must be
dealt with upon sight, if dealt with at
all.
Rights OF NeutraIs.
The German government denies
the rights of neutrals to use arms at
all within the areas of the sea which
it has prescribed, even in the defense
of rights which no modern publicist
has ever before questioned their right
to defend. The intimation is convey
ed that the armed guards which we
have placed on our merchant ships be
treated as beyond the pale of law and
subject to be dealt with as pirates
would be.
ARMED neutrality is Intellectual
enough at best; in such circum-
stances and in the face of such pre-
tensions, it is worse than Intellectual; {;
1t is likely only to produce what it
was meant to prevent; it is practically
certain to draw us into the war with
out either the rights or the effective
ness of belligerents. There is one
choice we cannot make,w are incapa-
BILE of making: we will not choose
the path of submission and suffer the
most sacred rights of our nation and
our people to be ignored or violated.
The wrongs against which we now ar
ray ourselves are no common wrongs
they cut to the very roots of human
life.
"With profound sense of the SOL
emn and even tragical character of
the step l am taking and of the grave
responsibilities which it involves, but
in unhesitating obedience to what ]
deem my constitutional duty, l ad.
wise that the Congress declare the re.
cent course of the German govern.
ment to be in fact nothing less than
war against the government and peo
pie of the United States; that it form
ally accept the status of belligerent
which has thus been thrust upon il
and that it tax, immediate steps no
only to put tie country in a more
thorough state of defense, but also t.
exert all it's power and employ all it.
. resources to bring the government Of
the German empire to terms and enc
the war.
What this will involve is clear. L
will involve the utmost practicabl,
cooperation in counsel of and actor
with the governments now at wal
with Germany, and as encident t.
that, the extension to those govern
ments of the most liberal financia
credits, in order that our resource:
may, so far as possible, be added tc
theirs. 1t will involve the organiza
tion and mobilization of all the ma
terial resources of the country to sup
ply the materials of war and serve the
incidental needs of the nation in the
most abundant and yet the most eco
nomical and efficient way possible.
Army OF Half Million
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
enemies submarines. 1t will involve
the immediate addition to the armed
forces of the United Stat0s, already
provided for by law in case of war
at least 100000 men, who should, ir
my opinion be chosen upon the prin
ciple of universal liability to service
and also the authorization of sub
sequent additional increments ot
equal force so soon as they may bt
needed and can be handled in train
ing.
at will involve also, ofcourse, tn,
granting Of adequate credits to tn,
government, sustained, I hope, so fal
as they can equitably besustained b!
the present generations, by we'll con
ceived taxation.
81 say sustained so far as may b,
equitable by taxation because it Seems
to me that it would be most unwis,
to base the credits which will now b,
necessary entirely on money borrow
ed. 1t is our duty, most respectful,
urge to protect our people so far al
we may against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likel,
to arise out of initiation which would
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