The Pulaskian., 1917-11-09
Gentlemen of the Congress-:

Gentlemen of the Congress:
 l have called the congress into extra ordinary session because there are se- rious very serious choices of policy to Do made, and made immediately. which 1t is neither right nor constitutionally permissible that should assume the re- sponsibility of making.
 On the Sd of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary an- nouncement of the Imperial German government that on and after the 1st day of February it was It's purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of hu- manity and use It's submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Medi- terranean. That had seemed to be the object of the German submarine war fare earlier in the war but since April of last year the Imperial government had somewhat restrained the comman- ders of its undersea craft. in conform ity with its promise. then given te us, that passenger boats should not be sunk, and that due warning would be given fe aIl other vessels which its submarines might seek to destroy, when no resistance was offered or es- cape attempted, and care taken that
 
 chance to save their lives in their opea boats. The precautions taken were meager and haphnxard enough, was proved in distressing instance after fnstnace in the progress of the cruel and unmnnly business, but certain de- gree of restraint was observed.
 The new policy has swept every re- striction aside. Vessels of every kind. whatever their ing, their character their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and with out thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neu- trals along with those of belligerents. Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the soreIy beresved md striclZ- en people of Belgium, though the lat ter were provided with safe conduct through the prescribed areas by the German government itself and were distinguished by unmistakabIe marks of Identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle.
 was for little while unable to believe that suck things would fin fact be done by any government that had Hitherto subscribed to the humane practices of civilized nations. Inter national law had its origin in the at- tempt to set up some law which would be respected and observed upon the seas, where no nation had right of dominion and where lay the free high ways of the world. By painful stage after stage has that law been built up with meager enough results. indeed, after all was accomplished that could be accomplished, but always with q clear view, at lenst, of what the heart and conscience of mankind demanded.
 This minimum of right the German l.. d.x- -a plea Of retaliation and necessity and because it had no weapons which 1t could use at sea except these, which 1t Is impossible to employ as it is em- ploying them. without throwing to the wind all scruples of humanity or of respect for the understandings that were supposed to underlie the inter course of the world.
 am not now thinking of the loss of property involved. immense and serious ss that Is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of non -combatants, men, women. and chill dren, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in tue darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. Property can be paid fort the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce Is a warfare against mankind.
 It is war against all nations. Amer fcan ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships mad people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in ths sarae way. There has been dis crimination.
 The challenge ts te all mankind Each nation must decide for itself how if will meet 1t The choice we mak, for ourselves must be made with 6 moderation of counsel and temper ateness of Judgment bef1tting oul character and our motives as nation We must put excited feelings away Our motive will not be revenge or tn Victorious assertion of the physica might of the nation, but only the win dication of right of human right. O which we are only a single champion
 When addressed the congress ol the z8th Q. February last l thought 1 would surfice to assert our neutral right with arms. our right to use the sea against unlawful interference, our rfgh 10 keep our people safe against uniaw tul violence. But armed neutrality. 1 now appears. is impracticable. Becaus