Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1917 — OUTLINES PURPOSES OF U. S. IN THE WAR [ARTICLE]

OUTLINES PURPOSES OF U. S. IN THE WAR

•In comprehensiveness and expression the reply of President Wilson to the peace pronouncement of Pope Benedict takes rank over anything that he has yet uttered; it is his greatest state paper. It leaves no doubt as to the purposes of the United States in the present war, and as it is assumed that he is, speaking for our allies also, or at least sounding the keynote of any other responses that • /nay be made, Mr. Wilson’s reply is of monumental import.

The basis of peace is made plain r and amounts to nothing more nor less than the abdication of the kaiser and the establishment of a representative ‘ form of government in Germany, inasmuch as the downfall of the House of Hohenzollern would mean the end of monarchial dictation. It is a stirring appeal to German citizenship to establish a government in accord with the teachings of democracy and take their place unhampered by the

theory of the divine right of kings in the world movement for human freedom. Economic changes of vast importance are contemplated by President Wilson. The sovereignty of the -central powers is to be preserved in the final analysis, if his counsel shall prevail. Wrongs are not to be repaired at the expense of the sovereignty of any people;/ —ls hoped that the upeace, which will be won shall be a vindication of the sovereignty of all peoples, those that are weak and those that are strong. Vindictiveness, revenge, or deliberate injury

is to have no place in the final adjustment. “Punitive damages,’’ says the President, “dismemberment of empires, establishment of selfish and exclusive economic leagues are inexpedient and worse tljan futileand are no basis for peace of any kind, least of all enduring peace.’’ Justice, fairness and common rights are the foundation upon which must rest the future estate of the world. It is a big order, but not so impossible as it may have appeared some months ago. War and the march of ideas have accomplished much in changing the opinions of men, and it may be that before peace is established it esteemed the greatest, finest thing in the world, for which the peoples of the earth will be willing to make the final sacrifice and lay upon the altar of renunciation every lingering iota of selfish pur-.

pose. What a terrible arraignment is found in this’ paragraph: The object of this war is to deliver the free peoples of the world from the menace and the actual power of a vast military establishment controlled by an’ irresponsible government, which having . secretly planned to dominate the world, proceeded to carry the plan out without regard either to the sacred obligations of treaty or the long established practices and long cherished principles of international action and honor; which chose its own time for the war: delivered its blow’ fiercely and suddenly; stopped at no barrier either of law or mercy; swept a whole continent within its tide of blood —not the blood of soldiers only but the blood of innocent women and children also, and of the helpless poor; and now stands balked but not defeated. the enemy of four-fifths of the world. This power is not the German people. It is the ruthless master of the German people. The love of the Teutonic people for the Fatherland is sublime, but it remains to be seen •whether they are able to differentiate between the • land they love and the evil system of which they, as well as the world at large, are the victims. To rid themselves of the Old Man of the Sea who perches upon their aching shoulders is the chief exaction of the Uhited States, who stands ready to lend a helping hand in establishing a free Germany among the equal peoples of the earth' where the weak shall be the special care of the strong, and where opportunity is without limitations.

Hell is filled with saints by comparison with the militarists and every German grave is sheltering a man who was their superior in all that is worth while on earth. Nothing that has been uttered since the war began will have more influence than the Wilson note in arousing the people of the United States to a realization of the task that confronts them or the magnificent ends that will be achieved through victory. It is the rallying cry of the nation. The visions of

President Wilson may be, too great for -comprehension in all quarters, there may Jta. ..skepticism concerning the achievement of all the purposes that actuate him, but to everyone is permitted a sufficient understanding and faith to compel loyal and unfaltering support until

the chief purposes for which we are fighting are accomplished. The answer rests not with the allies, not with the kaiser, but with the peoples of the central powers. They can have peace at whatever moment they choose. They know the price* and it is paltry in view of the awful crimes that have been committed. < If <he authors o: the world’s woe could be compelled to swim fonerer in the sea of blood which they have shed, with only the briny tears of the widows and orphans to moisten their parched tongues, they would be enjoying a paradise too good for them. The system must be eliminated at all hazards. It is our pledge of faith to future generations. The German people must save the world for humanity or we shall save it in spite of them and at any cost. —Lafayette Jburnal.