' ' ik' 0- winwitFjivwmqp
TheiGammoner
'APRLL, 1917'
4
k 8
allied with the? imperial government of Germany
because they have not made war' upon us or
challenged us to defend our right and our honor.
."The Austro-Hungarian government has, in
deed, avowed its unqualified indorsement and
acceptance of the reckless and lawless sub
marine warfare adopted now without disguiso
by the imperial German government, and it has,
therefore, not been possible for this govern
ment, to receive Count farnowski, the ambas
sador recently accredited to this- government by
the imperial and royar government of Austria
Hungary; but that government has not actually
engaged in warfare against citizens of tho
United States , on the-seas, and I take the lib
erty, for the .-present at least, of postponing a
decision of our relations with the authoritfes at
Vienna.
"We enter this war only where we are clearly
forced into it because there are no other means
of defending our rights.
"It will be 'all the easier for us to conduct
ourselves as belligerents in a high spirit of right
and fairness becauso we act without animus, not
in enmity toward a people or with the desire
to bring injury or disadvantage upon them, but
only in armed opposition to an irresponsible
government which, has thrown aside all consid
erations of humanity and of right and is run
ning amuck. ,,
BELIEVES MOST GERMAN-AMERICANS
yLOYAL
"Wo are let me say again, the sincere friends
of the German people, and shall desire nothing ,
so much as the early re-establishment of inti
mate relations of mutual advantage between us
however hard it may be for them, . for the
time being, to believe that this is spokcu rrom
our hearts.
"We have borno with their present govern-.
. ment through all these, bitter months because
of that friendships-exercising a patience .and
forbearance which would otherwise have been
impossible.
"We, shall, happily, still havo an opportunity
to prove thqjt friendship in our daily attitude
and actions toward the millions of men and
women of German birth and native sympathy
who live among us and share our life, and we
shall be proud to prove it toward all who are
in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the gov
ernment in the hour of test.
"They are, most of them, as true, and loyal
Americans as if they had never known any '
other fealty or allegiance. They will bo prompt
to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the
few who may be of a different mind and pur
pose. .
"If there should be disloyalty, it will be
dealt with with a firm hand of stern repression;
but, if it lifts its head at all, it will lift it only
here and there, and without countenance ex
cept from a lawless and malignant few.
"It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gen
tlemen of the congress, which I haye performed
in thus addressing you. ' There are, it may be,
many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead
of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great, ,
peaceful country into war, into the' most ter
rible ' and disastrous of all "wars, " civilization
itself seeming to be in the balance. '
LIVES AND FORTUNES DEDICATED TO
-. TASK
"But the right is more precious than peace,
and we shail fight for the things which we have
always carried nearest our hearts for democ
racy, for the right of those who submit to au
thority to have a voice in their own govern
ments, for the rights and liberties of small na
tions, for a universal dominion of right by such
a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace
and safety to all nations and make the world
itself at la3t free.
"To such a task we can dedicate our lives
and our fortunes, everything 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 peace which she has
treasured.. '
"God holpirig her, she can do no other."
MR. BRYAN'S TJONDER TO PRESIDENT
WILSON
(Sent Immediately after reading of tlio ac
tion of congress.)
TT r , April Gth, 1917.
Hon Woodrow Wilson,
President,
Washington, D. G.,
Believing it to bo the duty of tho citizen to
bear his part of the burdens of war and his
share of its perils, I hereby tender my services
to tho government. Plcaso enroll mo as a prl
vato whenever I am needed, and assign mo to
any work that I can do. Until called to tho
colors, I shall, through the Red Cross, contrib
ute to tho comfort of soldiers in tho hospital
and, through tho Y. M. C. A., aid in safe
guarding tho morals of tho men in camp. '
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
. THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY
Washington, D. C, April 7, 1917.
Hon William Jennings Bryan,
Miami, Fla.
Thank you very warmly for your telegram.
I am sure that the whole country will believe
that you are ready to servo In any way that
may set its interests forward.
WOODROW WILSON.
AMERICA FIRST
. If any Gorman-Amprican so far forgets his
duty to his flag as to contemplate injury to
the United States by tongue or deed, it ought
to bo some restraint upon him i-- mot
any uupatriotio tram or act on his part will do
more harm to his own kinsmen than ho can
possibly do to this government or to this coun
try. America first is the watch-word of every
patriot, no matter from what land ho comes.
ABOLISH THE SALOON
And now for a preparedness that will be as
useful in peace as in war a preparedness ab
solutely necessary in war if every citizen is to
measure up to tho maximum of strength
namely, THE ELIMINATION OF THE SALOON
FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. Alcohol
makes a man forget his duty to his country as
well as to his wife, his parents, his children and
his God.
AN UNANSWERABLE ARGUMENT
The advocates of prohibition now have' an
economic argument against tho saloon which
the liquor 'interests will find it difficult to an
swer, namely, that the country can not afford
to waste the grain and other foodstuffs formerly
converted into intoxicating liquor. We can not
afford to starve the people in order to make
them drunk. W. J. BRYAN.
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a. crown,
, , JEFFERSONIAN DOCTRINE
: Acquiescence in the will of the- majority Is
the first principle of republics," this is the lan
guage of Jefferson and it applies to war as well
as to peace. It applies even more forcibly in
time of war because to the outside- -world the
government speaks for the entire nation.
9 ' i i i " i
SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT
t
How many men should bo enlisted? As many
as the government asks for. And how inuch
money should be appropriated? As much as
the 'government thinks necessary. Individual
'opinions are merged in one vo'fce, the. voice of
the government. W. J. BRYAN.
Thp. German born Americans will, by enlist-
""" ,- -
ing in proportion to tueir numpers, convince
nnv who "need to be convinced that sympathy
with Germany as against other European na
tions does not prevent loyany io tueir uuuiueu
land when the United States is at war.
.
At tho last election in Shreveport, La., a
former wet voted dry, giving as his reason that
prohibition had closed the four pawn shops
that had thrived with the saloons. .That is one
business that prohibition Injures.
China and Russia have set tho world an ex
ample in bloodless revolutions.
At War
;
f.
i
. Tho nation has cntorod tho war. Monctllffercd
as to tho wisdom of going Into the v?arV lAit tho
government has acted, and there is'rjb longor
division. Tho pooplo oro one thoy .alj stand
behind tho President and congress -who boar
tho gravo responsibility or loading tho country
through war to poaco, "Our llvos, our" fortunes
and our sacred honor"- all theso are. pledged
to support of tho government through every
hour until tho end.
W. J. BRYAN.
WHY NOT?
t
Mr. II. L. Borry of Stanton, North Dakota,
suggests that war costs money as woll as blood,
and that tho government should fool as froo to
draft wealth as It does to draft men.
Tho principles is sound. Why not draft
money? If thccftlzon must give his life to on
ablo his country to carry on war, why should
the property owner bo dealt with moro lenient
ly? Is money moro precious thnn blood? Ah
long as the poor will do tho fighting, tho men
of largo wealth may bo Indifferent. Thoy may
even profit by army contracts, but tho drafting
of property would givo to tho big proporty own
er a realizing sense of tho, sacrifice for which
war calls. By all means lot money and mon bo
put upon tho same basis, at least, let us not put
money above men. W. J. BRYAN
A GOOD BEGINNING
Tho minister of Justice of Russia's nnw
eminent has mado &- fiuuu ucginning. Ho Is
quoted as follows:
"Our comrades of the second and fourth
dumas, who were banished Illegally to tho tun
dras of Siberia, will bo released forthwith. In
my Jurisdiction are all tho premiers and min
isters of the old regime. They will answer be
fore tho law for all crimes against tho people."
"Show thorn no rnorcy," many voices In tho
crowd are reported to havo exclaimed.
"Comrades," continued M. Kerens!;!, "I lidpc
Russia will not have recourse to tho shameful
methods utilized by the old regime. Without
trial none will be condemned. All prisoners
will bo tried in open court."
If, tho, new government can avoid the use of
the old method it will not only give convincing
proof of Its superiority but It will strengthen
democracy elsewhere.
DECLARATION OF J WAR HAS CLOSED ALL
DISCUSSION '
Albany, Ga Herald, April 7.J
- Declaration of .war closes all discussion, and
it now becomes the duty of every citizen to
stand behind tho government, said Hon. William
Jennings Bryan, in an address delivered tln. tho
municipal auditorium last night.
.Mr. Bryan. said he gladly would have given
his. life to 'prevent war, but now that war. ihas
been declared, ,hp is ready to give., his .life to
his country. A't
THE BEGINNING OF THE END '".
"In. view of the gigantic deeds of the etjtire
people there is, In my opinion, no more, room
in Prussia for election by classes.'.' The. above
announcement fr6ra tho Kaiser. Is the begin
ning of, the end, When a monarch, .feets it
necessary to promise reforms In tho mlds ql a
war It means that there is among the people a
spirit of. protest that can no longer bo' ignored.
Tho words will accelerate reforms can tho, era
L 1 ' 1 I , it .'... ' ' ' t
uror iruyux ua rapiuiy as me people . .
The Kaiser's reference to "direct and secret
election of. deputies" Is additional -,, .evidence
that the avalanche is moving. , ..,.,
' Tho promised change in the Fatherland will
be especially welcome to those Americans 'who
trace their ancestry to Germany, t or as 'the
President says, it is the German GOVERN
MENT with whlchwe are at war 'not 'the 'Ger
man PEOPLE. The more rapidly thef leaven
of democracy works over there thd shorWth
way.'' -' W. .BkYAN.
a timely quotation.
0
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