Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1918 — GERMANY’S PEACE NOTE. [ARTICLE]

GERMANY’S PEACE NOTE.

The kaiser’s latest peace note calls to '»mind that old saying about “when the devil was sick, the devil a saint would be." Let Germany surrender unconditionally and the allies will fix the terms. And the terms will perhaps be easier the sooner this is done, too. Much as we would like to seethe war go on until all Germany is laid waste —as it has laid waste to Belgium and France —it will cost thousands more . lives of our soldiers to do this, and when it is done we can't sit by and see the women and children starve. However, the people h'ave the utmost confidence in the wisdom and justice of President Wilson, who will be the chief spokesman in this matter, and whatever he decides the country will back him almost to a man. The allied press as well as the ■press of our own country is almost unanimous in its opinion of the note, as will be seen in the comment of leading papers: Indianapolis News. — The Americans have nothing to fear from the German arms. These in time —and in a' short time —we shall break to pieces. But there is room to be apprehensive of German trickery and diplomacy. These must be held at arms’ length while we decide the issue with force. If ■_ German troops want peace all they need to do is to surrender, pass as prisoners to the rear while the triumphant and avenging allies go steadily on their way to Berlin. Germany has not physically suffered and it would be a mockery of justice if her armies were now permitted to return home, take up the plow in the field right where

they left it and the hammer in the Shop, and proceed with scientific preparation for another invasion of Belgium and France, and another closure of the seas to peaceful commerce. Such a course is not to be dreamed of; nor should our men in the field pause for one instant in their heavy crushing tramp, tramp, tramp toward German soil. It*took a long time for us to get ready to avenge the world’s insult; but now we are not going to stop until it- is done. Not a German prince or a Potsdam potentate has suffered a dollar nor a drop of blood in this war in which innocent peoples have sacrificed more than figures can reckon. Now these war lords quail. Let them squeal like rats in a trap while the dogs of war do their worst. Unconditional surrender and no parleying! , New York Herald.-— The hit dog yelps. From Berlin and .Vienna come simultaneous peace wails, with the exhausted Turk echoing

a feeble “me, too.’’ * * * yyhat Prince Maximilian asks, and all that he asks, is “peace by negotia-tions”—-a Prussian peace. * ♦ * What he asks is an armistice. * * * It is the same old trap. * * * There will be no armistice. There will be no negotiations until Germany prefaces its plea with unconditional surrender. We have just begun to fight. Washington Post.—War to the limit, war until the now humbled German emperor hands over his dishonored sword, war until Germany, instead of “accepting President Wilson’s proposal’’ tenders its unconditional surrender: that is the plain duty of the allied nations. When Germany really w’ants peaceshe will know how to get it —that is by withdrawing her armies from every foot of allied soil, in the west, in the Balkans and in Russia. Los Angeles Times.—On its face the note of the German chancellor is a plain acceptance of the peace terms of President Wilson. It doubly accepts them, specifying two expressions' of the President's ideas. , Prinoe Maximilian’s speech to the reichstag further conforms to the President's ultimatum, in its reference to relations with Russia and Belgium. Germany has practically surrendered. Peace is not far off.

Chicago Herald and Examiner.— Those who are fighting in France have an eye on Berlin and on nowhere else. They are not anxious for a kaiser-made peace or any peace that will not forever settle the question for which they are fighting—namely, the liberty of free peoples. If we fail, we will hear from the graves in France: “Have you permitted us to die in vain?” Minnea]>olis Morning Tribune.— ls Germany is now ready to meet the acid test, set forth by President Wilson in his July 4 speech, let It raise the only kind of white flag the world would feel like trusting in its hand—the flag of unconditional surrender and then it must signalize that surrender by laying down its arms advance. Temple (Tex.) Telegram.—Germany would steal from allies victory just within grasp, would preserve Germany from invasion, would get a breathing spell while disorder and chaotic conditions back of German lines could be remedied, wolild negotiate a peace enforceable only by more war. The allies should dictate peace. Germany can accept the terms or consequences. Baltimore American.—There can be no peace by negotiation with the central powers as at present organized. This suggestion can not be put too nakedly or bluntly. It is time for shirtsleeve directness. The United States 'is preparing to put all of . its tremendous potency into the smashing of Hunism. Our getting into this war is no bluff and Hunism will not be permitted to turn it into a bluff. Boston Herald.—The Austro-

German proposals for an armistice Can hawe success. Unconditional surrender is the door to real peace negotiations. Columbus Dispatch.— 'We must not allow ourselves to grow soft toward the enemy. We are at war with the most murderous lot of outlaws that has ever disgraced the earth. We must treat them as we would treat any other gang of outlaws. They must pay for the hellish crime they have committed. New Orleans Times-Picayune.— The allies have stated their war aims frequently and in evef-Ifi-Treasing clearness ♦ * ♦ they now can be stated in two words: “Unconditional surrender.”