Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-12-30
THE ENEMINs OE PEACE.


From The Irish World
Mr.. Wilson speaks for the Amer
ican people. and that Is why his note
TO the nations engaged in the war
eXcites so much anger England es-
pecially had been led by the tone OF
our Anglomaniac newspapers TO
suppose that American opinion was
in no way affected by the German
suggestion or peace, and that all her
friends in this country were agreed
with her in the purpose to fight on
70 the bitter end Mr. Wilson CON
tradicted that pleasing confidence by
an appeal suggested by the German
oifer, but not proposing that or any
definite basis for peace. He gave the
English, and in less degree the
French, q shock by showing that
America still retains her sanity, and
dare not keep silent when ii seems
time TO speak against the prolonged
desolation Of Europe by its own
hands. And the tone Of the angry
reception which has been accorded
To- the presidents note shows that
he has reason on his side. His crit
les arc stung by the weight OF his
fairness and his impartiality They
know that their refusal to listen to
his plea for peace must weaken them
With The American people and with
all the neutral lfnations of the world.
Some English critics taunt him
with the obligations they are con
ferring upon America by continuing
the war until they have reduced Ger
many TO- insigniiicance. In terms
frequently adopted by our Anglo.
maniacs, they tell him that they are
lighting our war, that the imperialist
ambitions OF Germany can be con-
tent with nothing less than the re-
duction OF America to dependence
upon Berlin, and chat Democracy
must vanish off the earth with the
triumph OF so military despotsm
as the Kaiser wields
The truth Is that America must
take care OF herself against every
empire in the world, and so must
every other independent nation. The
very meaning OF the term empire"
Is that the country which assumes ii
has set out for the conquest of the
human race, and for its reduction
under q single despotic authority
And OF existing empires not one is
SO perilous TO the independence and
the liberties OF mankind as that
which is ruled from London. So we
are not terrified by the German talk
OF 'weltmacht," tworld-power) as
that 10 mere expression of the COM
mon purpose OF all Empires.
They do not taunt the President
with our making money out OF the
present war When America gives
expression TO her desire for peace
she turns her back upon such gains
Cur country is not to be identified
with the capitalists, whom j +.
Morgan and Company have organized
Tor the service OF England and
France in the manufacture OF muni-
tons Of war. Nothing is more pain
ful than to see American stocks go
tumbllnB when the situation in
Europe gives any hope OF the cessa-
tion OF slaughtcr and mounting
again when such hopes are dashed.
Mr., Wilson speaks tor the country,
not for the Stock Exchange; and the
country will not weep when we have
ceased 10 heap up wealth in this
fashion, even though the advent OF
peace should bring with il a depress-
! ing reaction from the flush times"
! IN which We now are living. 1t win
/ pc q small price to pay for that
blessing.
The English and the French make
| out strong case. for Germany, when
! they talk as though their own cause
We're ono Of absolute right, and that
( OF their enemies one oil absolute
| wrong There never was but one
struggle In history. in which the di-
! vlding line between tho parties coin
cided with that between mere right
and mere wrong. Always something
base has clung to the better side,
J and something noble to the worse,
| and affected the character Of the CON
| fict. Tho only ono In which good
was all one one side, and evil in
every form On the other, was that
waged by our blessed Lord against
Satan, the World and Sin. And that
ended in seeming defeat for the good
cause, and triumph OF its enemies.
It's seeming defeat proved its glorious
/! triumph. and brought in the reign
Of the Prince of Peace
Let England or France compare
their present warfare in its motives
and it's methods with that waged and
won by Him whom they profess TO
worship and serve: Let the British
people especially recall what Is
associated with the names of Bag
dad. Egypt, Greece and Ireland, and
compare il with the story OF that
wonderful life, which they as Chris
tians, in name at least must regard
aa the standard OF all right living,
and as the most successful life ever
spent on this planet And above all
1 let them compare their embittered
hatred OF their antagonists in this
war; and their avowed purpose ia
destroy them as a power in the
world, with the long-suffering love
and patience, which found its ex.
preston IN that dying prayer
Father forgive them, for they know
not what they do"
AS il shrinking from any such
comparison with the highest known
TO man, the London "Times" an
nounces that it win fight this war tc
the end as Lincoln did. Did The