Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-14

obliged to take up arms to defend jus.
tice and the liberty Of national evolu.
tion. The glorious deeds Of our armies
have in no way altered their purpose.
We also maintained the firm belief
that our own rights and justified
claims In no way control the rights
OF these nations.
'"The spiritual and material prog
ress which were the pride OF Europe
at the beginning of the twentieth cen
tury are threatened with ruin. Ger.
many and her allies, Austria Hungary,
Bulgaria and Turkey, gave proof of
their unconQuerable strength in this
struggle. They gained gigantic advan-
tages over adversaries superior in
number and war material. Our lines
stand mistaken against ever.repeated
attempts made by armies.
"The last attack In the Balkans has
been rapidly and most victoriously
overcome. The most recent demonstra.
tions have shown that further con.
tfnuation of the war will not result in
breaking the resistance of our forces
and the whole situation with regard
to our troops justifies our expectation
OF further successes.
IF, in spite of this offer of peace
and reconciliation, the struggle should
go on. the four allied powers are re.
solved to continue to victorious end,
but they disclaim responsibility for
this before humanity and history. The
imperial government, through the good
offices of your excellency, ask the
government of (here is inserted the
name Of the neutral power addressed
In each instance) to bring this COM
municatiOn to the knowledge of the
government Of (here are inserted the
names OF the belligerents)"
After reading the note the chancel-
lor said:
"Gentlemen:--1n August, 1914, our
enemies challenged the superiority OF
power in the world war. Today we
raise the question of peace, which
is a question of humanity. We await
the answer Of our enemies with that
sereneness of mind which is guaran
teed to us by our exterior and interior
strength and by our clenr conscience
II our enemies decline to end the war /.
II they wish to take upon themselves
the worlds heavy burden of all these
terrors which hereafter will follow
then even In the least and smallest
homes every German heart will burn
in sacred wrath against our enemies
| who are unwilling to stop human
slaughter In order that their plans oi
conquest and annihilation may con
tinue.
"In q fateful hour we took a fateful
decision. God will be the Judge. We
can proceed upon our way without
fear and unashamed. We are ready
for fighting and we are ready fol
peace"
The chancellor's speech was listened
to by thronged galleries. The royal
box was crowded. All the ambassa
doris and ministers Of foreign govern
ments were In the diplomatic box.
The chancellor's first utterancef
were greeted with applause on al
sides and at frequent points in his
speech. the assembly assented in dem
onstrative fashion. Later, however
when he touched upon the question o1
policy. differences Of opinion made
themselves felt, the applause coming
mainly from the Catholic center and
the left At the conclusion of hi.
/ address a majority of the house. ap
! plauded and the galleries joined in tht
handclapping. ==-,==
Prior to adjournment the presiden'
OF the chamber declared that the ma
tion and its representatives would al
ways support the chancellor In a pol
icy which was farsighted and intel
lfgent.
A