Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-24
FIGHT WITHOUT
MERCY, URGES
FRENCH PREMIER

complish the definite liberation of Eu
rope won by victory insurnE peace.
This is the cry which was wrung from
all lips when, during the session of
the chamber of deputies of August 4,
there became evident as has been so
we'll described by the president of the
republic, that sacred unity which in
/ the pages of future history will be the
honor of France.
This is the cry that is being re-
peated by all Fronchmen, but only af-
ter they have put an end to the dis
cords which too often take possession
of our minds and which blind enemy
mistooH for differences that could not
be composed. 1t is the cry that is be-
ing heard from the glorious trenches
whore France has thrown all her youth
and all her virillty. In front of this
rousinE evidence, unexpected by Ger
many, OF national sentiment Germany
was troubled in the intoxication of
her dream Of victory
ION the first day OF the conflict Ger
many denied the right; she had recourse
to force; she disdained history, and to vio-
late the neutrality of Belgium and invade
France she invoked the remarkable law
of sclf-nterost.
Since this time the German government
has realized that it was necessary for it
TO consider the opinion of the world and
it recently attempted a rehabilitation of
its attitude by oudcaVOllng to throw back
on the allies the responsibility for the
war. But in spite OF this truth has APP
pcarcd. 1t has shown itself rising above
the fasehoods that amiahle credulty no
longer accepts. All the documents pub
lished by the nations Interested, and even
Yesterday at Rome the sensational speech
of one of the most illustrious representa-
tives of noble Italy, are evidence of the
determination on the part of our enemies.
but frustrated for long time, to endeaV-
or to bring about an unexpected act Of
aggression.
IF circumstances required it, a sin
gle one of these documents would suf-
iect. When, at the suggestions Of the
British government, all the nations
concerned were requested to suspend
their military preparations and take
part in series of negotiations with
London, on July 81, 1914, France and
Russia adhered to this proposal
Peace could have been maintained
even at this very critical hour II Ger
many had been willing to accept this
idea. But Germany disrupted the sit
uation. on August she declared war
on Russia. and made recourse to arms
unavoidable And if II is q fact that
Germany automatically crushed this
possibility of peace in its inception
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i"is P'a" u war ana 'i'ls pan Vi peace
u" Hot c"i"e 10 us seh'leHleh' INSPIRED ny
any PTesU"ptuous nope me certainty "t
success is ours we owe THIS certainty TO
our entire army TO our navy which' act
ing Jointly with the British navy has pro-
cured Tor us the mastery OF the seas anu
to the troops who in Morocco successfully
repulsed aggressive action. We owe it
also to the soldiers who are defending our
distant flag In those French colonies
which, from the very first day turned to-
ward France as daughter would turn to
n mother in distress. We owe this convc-
ton toour army whose heroism was guided
! by incompatible leaders to the victory of
the Marine and to the victory In Flanders
and we owe II to the nation which knew
how to meet this heroism with union, with
silence and with serenity IN the hours Of
crisis Thus there have been brought out
| by this impious war all the virtues Of our
race We have shown initiative spirit,
bravery and temerity, and we have been
enduring, patient and stolcal.
Gentlemen let US salute these heroes.
| Glory to those who have fallen ON the
! threshold of victory and also TO those
who. by this same victory to-morroy
will avenge the fallen A nation that
incites such enthusiasm caS never perish.