The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-03
DIR NEW DECLARATION

OUR NEW DECLARATION
When in the course of human events, 1t be-
comes necessary for the people of democratic,
liberty loving country to fight unto death for the
principles they hold most dear, decent respect
to the opinions Of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which mpel them to
wage win-or-die war.
We hold these truths to be selfevident, that
all nations, great and small, are entitled to their
place under the sun; that all human beings are
endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable
rights, whether they live in Belgium, Serbia,
France or travel upon the high seas in peaceful
ships of commerce; that among these, are lite,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to Sc
cure these rights those governments of the peo-
pie, for the people and by the people, have banded
together in one cause and with one purpose against
that government and the slavish subjects of that
government which seeks to Overthrow liberty
throughout. the world and to crush democracy
beneath the cruel heel of the autocracy of might.
For long and many years this power of military
might and inhuman greed threatened the peace
of the world and the freedom of all peoples, but
still we were patient and hoped that the light of
justice and honor might break through the cloak
of militarsm into the hearts Of the German people
and that reason might come to the German gov
ernment But when long train of abuses and
usurpations pursuing invariably the same object,
evinced design to reduce all other nations and
peoples under absolute despotism it became our
right it became our duty, to fight that ruler that
government, that people with all of our resources
n6f men and money; food and bullets. The history
of the present kaiser of Germany is a history of
repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in
direct object, the establishment of an absolute
tyranny over all people and all nations. To prove
this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:
He has committed outrageous crimes against
American citizens upon the high seas.
He has wilfully and needlessy murdered
American women and children
He has tortured and slain prisoners of war.
He has violated every known law of war.
He has violated every international law which
stood in his course of brutalized warfare.
He has murdered non-combatants, even in
Guiding little babies.
He has made bonfires and heaps of ruins out
of churches and hospitals.
He has sunk hospital ships.
He has made war upon Red Cross workers.
He has fon1ented plots against the United
States while this country was at peace with Ger
many.
He has hired destruct onists to destroy life
and property in the United States and in every
other country which resisted his power lust.
He has committed unforgivable crimes against
the female population of conquered territory.
He has torn up treaties and scorned the rights
of humanity.
He has plunged the world into this war, and
by so doing, has become the arch-murderer of all
time and the slayer of more human beings than
all other murderers of all the world within the last
several hundreds of years. 49,.
-, We, therefore, the people of the United States
OF America on this Fourth of July, do soemnly
publish and declare, that the United States of
America will exert it's last ounce of strength, will
give its last man, will spend it's last dollar, and
will fight to the last day of our existence as
free nation to the end that our foe, the enemy
OF humanity, justice and liberty, may be defeated
That the final victory may be so complete, so de-
cisive that never again will German autocracy and
militarism threaten the peace of the world nor
the liberty of the inhabitants thereof. And for
the support OF this declaration with a firm reli-
ance on the protection of Divine Providence, we
mutually pledge to each other that we will loan Of
our savings for War Savings Stamps and Liberty
Loans, that we will give of our money for war
taxes without complaint, that we will support with
our dollars and our time Red Cross and all other