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Show WAR IS DECLARED President Wilson's Earnest Address Stirs Patriotism 4 of the Nation President Wilson's address to Congress asking that war be declared against Germany was full of earnest patriotic pat-riotic utterances and is favorably commented upon by men of prominence of all shades of political belief. The following paragraphs are characteristic of the address: "We enter into this war only where we are clearly forced into it because there are no other means of defending defend-ing our rights. ' It will be easier for us to conduct ourselves ourselv-es as belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness because we act without animus, not in enmity toward a people or with a desire to bring any injury or disadvantage upon them, but only in armed opposition to an irresponsible irresponsi-ble government which has thrown aside all considerations cf humanity and of right and is running amuck." , "The new policy has swept every restriction aside, vessels of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination or their errand have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents. Even hospital ships and carrying relief to the sorely bereaved and stricken people of Belgium, th6ugh the latter were provided with safe conduct through the proscribed areas by the German government itself, and were distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk with the same ruthless lack of compassion or principle." "Neutrality is no longer reasonable or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples." "One of the things that has served to convince us that the Prussian autocracy was not and could never be our friend is that from the very outset of the present war it has filled our unsuspecting communities and even our offices of government with spies and set criminal intrigues everywhere afoot against our national unity of council, our peace within and without, our industries and our . . commerce. "There is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable 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 array ourselves are not common wrongs, they cut to the very roots of human life." . .. "What this will involve is clear. It will involve the utmost practicable co-operation in council and action with the governments now at war with Germany, and, as an incident to that, the extension to those governments of the most liberal financial credits, in order that our resources may, so far as possible, be added to theirs. It will involve the organization of all the material resources of the country coun-try to supply the materials of war and serve the incidental needs.of the nation in the most abundant and yet the most economical and efficient way possible. It 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 enemy's submarines. It will involve the immediate immedi-ate addition to the armed forces of the United States already al-ready provided for by law in case of war, at lease 500,000 men, who should, in my opinion be chosen in the principle of universal liability to service, and also the authorization of subsequent additional increments of equal force so soon as they may be needed and can be handled in training." "They are, most of them, as true and loyal Americans as if they had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining re-straining the few who may be of a different mind and purpose. pur-pose. If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm hand of stern oppression ; but if it lifts its head at all, it will only lift it here and there and without countenance coun-tenance except from a lawless and malignant few." "It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing j you. There are, it may be, many months -of firey trial and . sacrifice ahead of us- It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful country into war, into the most terrible and .! disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in 1 (Continued on page four) PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE (Continued from page one) the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties' of the small nations, for a universal domination of right by such a concert con-cert of free people as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything every-thing that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those' who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the pe.ace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other." Colonel Roosevelt Approves ' Colonel Roosevelt stopped off at Washington to con-grtulate con-grtulate the president and said: ' "The president's message is a great state paper which will rank in history among the great state papers of which Americans in future years will be proud. It now rests with the people of the country to see that we put in practice prac-tice the policy the president has outlined and that we strike as hard, as soon and as effectively as possible in aggressive war against the government of Germany. We must send troops to the firing line as rapidly as possible. Defensive war is hopeless. We must by vigorous offensive offens-ive warfare win the' right to have our voice count for civilization civi-lization and justice when the time for peace comes." "I, of course, very earnestly hope that I may be allowed al-lowed to raise a division for immediate service at the front. I guarantee "that no finer body of fighting men could be gathered together than there would be in that division, di-vision, but, of course, theynen to whom I would appeal would come forward only if it is understood that the division divis-ion is to be sent at the earliest practicable moment into the fighting line." Colonel Roosevelt did not intend to stop here until this morning when he read the president's message. Then he decided to stop over and congratulate him. Followed through the station by a large crowd, from which many rushed and shook his hand, the colonel took an automobile seat by his daughter, Mrs. Nicholas Long-worth, Long-worth, and drove directly to the White House. Taft Pleased With Address New Haven, Conn., April 3. Former President William Wil-liam Howard Taft, in a statement today, commenting on the message of President Wilson said: "The president's message is an admirable setting forth of the causes that must lead the United tSates into a declaration of war. It is a great historical state paper. Its approval of unversal compulsory service and of a close practical alliance with England, France and Russia in overcoming Prussian militarism shows the President's determination that the country when in war shall wage it I effectively. The entente allies are now fighting our battles I as well as the battle of the world progress and we should be recreant to every principle of honor and decency if we do not subscribe to the president's policy in a firm union in this war with . France, England, Russia, Italy and their allies " |