ea withoutsubscribing to the same inhumane measures the Germans have employed,destroying ships before they reveal their intention. The position of armedneutrality has worked only to produce what it was meant to prevent,claimed the President with hopes of validating his attitude reversal. Thepresident was certain that armed neutrality would accomplish nothing butbring America into a war that it was unprepared for and the country wouldconsequently, lack effectiveness (Safire 111). Wilson, forced to make achoice for his country as to either maintain its honor or peace, statedThere is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable of making......We willnot choose the path of submission (Low 239). With this sentence, Wilsondefined neutrality as being synomous with submission and he refused to allowthe rights and/or the people of the United States to be violated orignored(Safire 113). With neutrality voided, the President moved on to address the mainconcern of his speech. With a solemnity of language, Wilson asked toCongress to declare the recent insults of the German government asnothing less than war against the government and people of the UnitedStates and he advised that they accept their newfound status ofbelligerent and work to prepare the countrys resources and people to defeatthe evil German empire and resolve the war(Clements 2). The presidentexpressed his regret in having to make such a move but found it as hisconstitutional duty to do no other(Safire 112). Through the use ofanaphora for emphasis, he stated the need for an army to be raised throughdrafting, the levying of taxes, making money readily available to the Alliedpowers, increasing agricultural and industrial production, and overallcommitment by the country to give its all to destroy the Prussianautocracy (Clements 140). Wilson was asking for more than had ever beendemanded of the country before; requesting not only their loyalty andenthusiasm, but organizati...
