Alan Seeger.
Germany lived up to her agreement only in partial and grudging fashion, and the climax came on January 31, 1917, when the German Government announced that an unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships encountered on the seas would begin next day. President Wilson at once handed the German Ambassador his passports, and on April 2, after the sinking of three American ships without warning, appeared before Congress and asked that war be declared. After thirteen hours of debate, the Senate passed the necessary resolution; the House concurred on April 5, and the next day the President issued a proclamation declaring that "a state of war exists between the United States and the Imperial German Government."
REPUBLIC TO REPUBLIC
1776-1917
France!
It is I answering.
America!
And it shall be remembered not only in our lips but in our hearts
And shall awaken forever familiar and new as the morning
That we were the first of all lands
To be lovers,
To run to each other with the incredible cry
Of recognition.
Bound by no ties of nearness or of knowledge
But of the nearness of the heart,
You chose me then—
And so I choose you now
By the same nearness—
And the name you called me then
I call you now—
O Liberty, my Love!
Witter Bynner.
The Entente Powers welcomed their new ally with bursting hearts, for a decisive victory, which was becoming more and more hopeless, now seemed assured.
TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Brothers in blood! They who this wrong began
To wreck our commonwealth, will rue the day
When first they challenged freemen to the fray,
And with the Briton dared the American.
Now are we pledged to win the Rights of man;
Labor and Justice now shall have their way,
And in a League of Peace—God grant we may—
Transform the earth, not patch up the old plan.