The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-10-19
FACTS ON ''WHY
WE ARE At VAR
IContinued from second page

tice, of the rule, of kings and princes
rather than the rule Of the people, and
of mighty militarism dominating the
world, had become so powerful after CEN
turtles Of development that sooner or lat
er it was inevitably destined to strike
the shores of the United States.
All the preceding story has traced
the coming Of this Prussian peril. 1t Is
all proof of the necessity for America
entering the war. Our peace-loving coun-
try, proud of its records Of peace, and
desiring above all things the maintenance
of that record could no more escape
armed conflict with the Prussian ideals
than men may escape the day Of judg-
ment.
America has always stood for the
growth of freedom democracy and right,
since the first colonists, fleeing from the
oppression of European tyranny, breathed
the free air of the Atlantic shores
The builders Of these United States
believed that government first Of all
is the servant of its citizens, is created
for their benefit, and that its primary
purpose is to guarantee the right to life,
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness.
Our war of independence taught Eng
land the worth Of these principles, so
that she has continuously increased their
development in her own policies since
that time.
France caught the spirit Of liberty and
the inspiration for republican govern
ment from the Stars and Stripes, the
oldest flag of democracy in the world to-
day.
The United States fought the Spanish
war TO free the oppressed and to right
the wrong of military force over justice
The men who made it possible for Rus
STA to throw off the yoke of the car and
the cruel oppression Of the autoCrats re-
ceived their education in America, and
were called Americans by their oppo-
nents, thus paying great tribute TO the
democratic principles for which our coun-
try stands.
Thus there has arisen a great world
influence which may well be called "The
American Ideal of Democracy and jus
tice."
As the worlds greatest example of
free and righteous government, it was
certain that America would in time be
forced to champion the cause Of true de-
mocraey against the war lords of Ger
many, and their desire to saddle the
world with Prussau domination.
The trend of the last century has been
for all nations to grow more democratic
in government Germany has been the
exception. She is to-day the most auto
cratic, tyrannical government in the
world.
The great inventions and discoveries
of recent years, fast express trains, ocean
greyhounds, telegraph, telephone, cable,
wireless, aviation and the great expan
sion OF trade and manufacturing have
brought the nations so closely together
that America has not been able to stand
apart from the affairs of the world as
she has done in the past With the new
world conditions no nation may live unto
herself. There must be friendly and fair
co operation among nations as there ia
among individuals of a nation America
has long believed in this principle but
has been loathe to interfere in European
affairs.
German aggression and arrogance
finally proved that America could not
fail to line up for right and justice be-
tween the nations of Europe.
8. How the United States Was Forced
Into the War
Though our government realized and
dreaded the peril of Prussianism once
the mask of innocence had been removed
with the start of the Great War; though
our people were filled with sorrow for
the wrong done to Belgium, and though
the great MACS Of our hope went out TO
the cause of the allies, our wise president
held the nation carefully in the laws Of
neutrality because America could not en-
ter into, even 50 Just and righteous
cause, without making every possible eff
fort to preserve our ideal of peace and
to give Germany every opportunity to
right the wrongs she had done
The United States could have Justly
entered the war for the cause of democ-
racy and righteousness before single
war-like act was committed against the
United States However, Germany, not
content with engendering our hatred by
her atrocious onslaught upon the nations
of Europe and the peace of the entire
world, deliberately committed acts Of
war upon American property and the
rights and lives of American citizens.
Germany Immediately after the war
had started showed a complete disregard
for international law which gave neu,
trails the right to sail the high seas and
protection to the passengers of ships.
The German chancellor said to the
world, Military necessity knows no
law and the kaiser preached the old
doctrine of Frederick the Great, chat
might makes right" Such were the an
swers given to notes of protest sent by
our government to Germany. To some
of our protests Germany gave soft prom
Uses and Immediately afterward sent
American citizens to the bottom of the
sea.
Finally Germany sank seven vessels of
the United States and deliberately caused
226 American men, women and children
to perish at sea, and still not content
notified the United States that American
ships could not sail the high seas with
out inviting attack and sinkings by Ger
man submarines
Meanwhile our secret service discov-
cred vast German plot to aid Mexico in
IN attack ON the United States Nothing
could now be more plain than the fact
that Germany, through these acts was
actually making war on the United
States.
1t was not until there had been Sc
ries of these acts that the people of the
United States fully realized that war
with Germany must come and if it did
not come now, it would surely come after
Germany had conquered England and
when the great British fleet would no
longer stand between America and the
Prussian world plan
Germany had created situation of
war. cnntrarY to International law. and