PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 1915. 13 



federacy of the Powers to enforce the observance of national treaties 

 and obligations. 



Probably this suggestion will be unearthed by posterity as one of 

 the curiosities of this age of the world. What is to be hoped for is that 

 when German Militarism shall have been crushed the horrors of what 

 has occurred will operate in the minds of all nations automatically to 

 produce such unity of thought and action among them as will enable 

 them to overawe on the part of any country any effort to make war 

 or in case of necessity by force of arms punish or restrain the offending 

 nations. 



We live in a time when the whole structure which we have referred 

 to for the preservation of peace has been utterly repudiated by Germany 

 and Austria. Their action has made itself evident that there is no means 

 of preserving peace or the sanctity of treaty obligations, or enforcing 

 submission to international law, when a nation thinks itself strong 

 enough to defy the opinion and the arms of the other nations of the world. 

 On the basis of German "kultur" international obligations stand only 

 for those who are not strong enough to repudiate them. The honour of 

 the Central Powers has been cast in the mire. While the other nations 

 of the world hold to the sacredness of treaty obligations, the mandates 

 of international law, and the dictates of humanity, these are all repudi- 

 ated by Germany and Austria. Their creed is such that they will not 

 acknowledge, much less voluntarily expiate, the wrongs which they have 

 perpetrated against God and man, by bringing on the war indeed but 

 a thousand times more so by the ruthless, wanton and cruel way in 

 which it has been waged in the invaded countries. The other nations 

 of the earth cannot submit to the rule of national license which Germany 

 and Austria have set up. 



In quietness and confidence let us await the victory of the nations 

 who are fighting for truth and justice against the powers of hell let loose 

 by Germany. 



The conflict involves an issue of life and death for all that gives real 

 worth to human existence for all civilization, all progress, all morality, 

 all liberty worthy of those august names. 



It will be a long fight, doubtless a fight in which our enemy will 

 shrink from no atrocities, but it will be a fight to the finish. The 

 commonest considerations of prudence make this certain. 



The stern judgment of the old Roman patriot upon the great foe of 

 his country was "Delenda est Carthago". As stern a resolution is on 

 the lips of all true lovers of their country and of mankind be they English, 

 or French, Russian, Italian, Japanese, and I do not hesitate to add 

 American. German militarism must be utterly destroyed and the 



