The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-12-28
Americans Should Throw
All Influence For Peace

against any use of this route TO menace
or to attack her Indian empire.
We think that Russia has the moral
right to the free use of the B}sphorous
and Dardanelles straits in order to have
a winter outlet for her productions and
a right share in the worlds trade.
We think that France has moral
right to be guaranteed against ag-
gression or attack by the overwhelm-
ing military power of Germany, and to
be let alone in peace to develop her
African and Asiatic territories.
We think that Austria Hungary has
the moral right to be freed from the
constant menaces and disturbances in
the turbulent and half civilized adioin-
ing small states, just as we have the
right to be freed from the menaces and
disturbances of half-civilized Mexico.
We think that Finland, Poland and
Lithuania have the moral right to re-
sumo their independent existence as
autonomous states, free from Russian
domination.
We think that Belgium should be re-
stored to full independence, and that
she should be Identified for the losses
inflicted upon her.
We think that Turkey should
be guaranteed safety. the pcs
session of her capital city and
her territories, and every reasonable
opportunity to develop under the
Joint guardianship and encouragement
of all the powers.
And we do earnestly believe that
such a reasonable programme can be
carried out and the peace and welfare
of Europe made certain for many years
to come, if peace negotiations are
entered upon now.
And we are equally certain that no
such reasonable programme. nor any
reasonable programme at all, can be
expected if this war, with all its hate
fitness and horribleness and its awful
waste of life and treasure, is prolonged
until one alliance brushes the other or
until both sink to the ground exhausted.
In either of these cases the peace
made will be only truce to be broken
the instant either alliance feels strong
enough to begin fighting again.
We should reflect that the objects
which the principal powers are fighting
to obtain are vital Objects that they
will inevitably fight for them again, if
they do not obtain enough of their de-
sires this time to feel safe and to
maintain their growth and development.
Now, it seems to US that there will
never be permanent peace until the
righttul desires of all are granted as
fully as they can be, and are guaran-
teed by congress of all nations, pledg-
ed to support each in its rights and to
wage common war upon any that in
fringes the rights of another. And we
also believe that there never has been
time so wholly propitious to such a
historic settlement of Europe's diff
ticulties as this very time.
Such league tor the enforcement of
international order would give Russia
her rightful outlet through the
Dardanelles; could give Germany her
rlghtful trade route and colonies in
Mesopotamia; could guarantee Turkey
safety and aid in development; could
guarantee France peace and her high
place in the councils of the world; could
guarantee England security in her world
colonies and at home; could guarantee
to all nations the freedom of the seas;
could guarantee to China her integrity
and to japan her rightful recognition
among civilized powers; could guarantee
the peace of North and South America,
and could define and establish and
MAINTAIN the right of small and weak
nations to pursue their own ways and
live their own national lives unvexed
and unafraid
Now, we maintain that 1t is perfectly
feasible for the allied powers to accept
the proposal of a conference with the
conditions precedent that every civlliz-
ed power, great and small, in the whole
world Join in congress looking to
fair and rightful settlement of peace
terms and of all the disputes and the
conflicting desires which madeIthis war,
and will make others like it, unless
civilization now determines to put an
end to war and to establish a CO.
operative league of all nations to
adjudicate disputes and to enforce its
decisions without war.
For these reasons, which we believe
to be sound and sane, we think that the
whole weight of our national influence
should now be thrown in favor of the
peace conference which Germany has
proposed.
We think that our government should
be emphatically told by the American
people to express plainly their anxious
desire that the war end upon terms
honorable to all combatants.
We think that self-interest and
patriotism and humanity, all dictate
just such course of action.