The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-08
WnEr no END rAE WAR.

WHEN TO END TIE WAR.
An Ensllsh View Of the Hints for = Easy
Peace What Must First be Accomplished.
From the London Morning Post.I
We take it to be good sign of the
progress of the war that simultaneously
in this country and the United States
suggestions are being made for an easy
peace. In the Morning Post of yester-
day our Washington correspondent quot
ed from pro. German newspapers to show
how the strings are being pulled in
America. According to the New York
Stats Zeitung ''the time has come for
making peace" and Mr.. Hearst's news
paper, the New York American, carries
the campaign step further by declaring
that ''to stop the war is the duty impos-
ed upon the United States. Today we
are able to expose the English side of
the same campaign. Mr.. Ramsay Mac
donald and his friends have been secretly
circulating an appeal, the object of which
is to form party for the purpose OF let
ting Germany down lightly should the
allies have the good fortune to be victo-
ri0us. The circular, which is signed by
Mr.. Ramsay Macdonald, Mr.: Charles
Treveiyan, M. Norman Angel and Mr..
E. D. Morel, begins with great parade
of democracy. 1t pretends that the con-
troll of foreign policy is in the hands of
marrow clique" and charitably sug-
gests that the armament organiza-
lions" are behind our Foreign Office.
These gentlemen, therefore, desire to
prevent our foreign policy from ''being
again shaped in secret and forced upon
the country as an accomplished fact.
Now we put it to Mr.. Macdonald and his
friends: Do they really see anywhere
any PROCTOR the least shadow of an in
dication-that our national policy in this
matter has not the enthusiastic and
unanimous support OF the nation? But
if our foreign policy is supported by the
those who disagree with it, then it is
Mr.. Ramsay Macdonald and his friends
who are anti-democratic, since they are
going against the manifest will of the
people. But to pass that point and to
come to the real substance of the letter,
the third object of the proposed organ
ization is: ITO aim at securing such
terms that this war will not, either
through the humiliation OF the defeated
nation or an artificial Encouragement of
frontiers, merely become the starting
point for new narional antagonists
and future wars" We should like the
public to take careful note of this fact,
that an organization is being secretly
prepared in order to flood the country
when the proper opportunity occurs,
with "books. pamphlets and leaflets"
directed TO the object of peace salts
factory to Germany.
For that is what it means. And here
we should like to say that we are not in
position at the present time either to
discuss or anticipate peace. We have
not yet beaten the enemy. 1t may be
that the enemy will yet be victorious.
The military situation is still critical,
and the triumph of the allies is by no
means to be taken for granted. Ulti-
mately we shall win-such, at least, is
our faith-but we may have many de-
feats and reverses, and we shall certain
ly have much hard fighting before that
object is attained. Therefore we shall
not be accused of counting our chickens
befole they are Matched if we say here
and now, while victory is still in the lap
of Fate, hidden from the blind eyes of
men, that, however long it may take
US and however mitch we suffer, we
must make this war decisive war. In
plain language, if we can make peace at
all, it shall be, when the German military
and naval power is broken, and when the
allies are in Berlin. That must be our
purpose and our determination. Let US
remember what German militarism has
done. 1t has torn up the public law of
Europe; it has trampled upon a weak
and innocent nation without d shadow of
excuse, and in defiance of its own solemn
treaties. 1t has plunged Europe into a
devastating war, which is costing mil
lions of precious lives and the boarded
and painful wealth of generations of
honest labor. 1t has wantonly destroy
ed ancient shrines of beauty and learn
ing which were the pride and glory of
the world. Not only so, but the Prus-
sian menace has kept4all Europe under a
cloud of apprehension for years, and
forced US all TO pile up costly ornaments
against the aggressor. Therefore, when
we were dragged into this war against
our peaceful inclinations the British ma
ton resolved that it should be fight to
a finish. And fight to a finish it must
be. If the German fleet refuses to come
out now it must be destroyed in harbor
as a condition of peace. Heligoand
must cease to be German cannon point
~ at lAlC DIedoI VI <aHI tLC
British empire will probably insist upon
arrangements being made in the map
of Africa and elsewhere. Germany by
her turbulence and brutality has shown
herself unworthy to be colonial Power.
But these are matters which ust be
settled-if they can be settled-in counsel
with our allies We have neither the
right nor the power to settle peace I'M
satisfactory to our friends. We are one
of three. France must be protected
against such aggressions in the future;
Russia will probably desire to be COM
pensated for her enormous sacrifices.
Belgium will have to be Unidentified.
Italy, if she should now join the allies,
will be entitled to a voice in the settle
ment of Europe. We do not propose to
ourselves the motto adopted by the press
of Berlin at the beginning of the war:
"Wde to the vanquished. But we do de-
sire that this war shall end in peace