The Republican journal., 1916-12-28
THE PRESIDENTS NOTE.

.
hours before President Wilson had sent
informal notes to all the belligerent pow
ers, appealing to them to discuss terms
which may end the war. In this connec-
ton the following paragraph from
Washington special is significant: 1.-THE
wish and hope of the German allies that
he take some such step had long been
we'll known and there is no doubt of the
manner of its reception among Them"
That was a safe conclusion, and Germa-
ny and her allies were prompt in express
sing their pleasure. In this country the
effect was different. The New York
stock market, Thursday, went through
the most exciting day in its history
with one exception. There was frenzied
selling and slaughter of prices. Off
cIals and diplomats in Washington, an
alyzing the President's note, found some
thing deeper than an appeal for the con-
sideration of peace terms, viz, that the
United States might be forced to enter
The war because of the continued inva-
sion of its rights by the warning powers
On both sides. So general was this IN
depreciation, and such CONSERVATION did
it create in official circles and among
foreign diplomats, that Secretary of
State Lansing was obliged to give out
statement in which he declared that the
government was not considering any
change in its policy of neutrality, and
mat the note sent to the warning pow
ars. was "merely an effort to get the
Deiligerents to define the end for which
they are fighting" That however,
seems hardly worth while, as from the
beginning Of the war to the present time
the object for which the Allies are fight
ing has been defined, over and over
again, in terms that could not be mis-
Gat.en and which are familiar to every
one who reads the news of the day.
Secretary Lanslng's first explanation
proved far from reassuring and he has
mad 10 make others, and has been in con-
'sultation with the German Ambassador
Count Won Bernstein, whose rejoicing
over the, Presidents Note has been wide
ly commented upon. 1t has also been
announced that the President was to
make statement. AS to Secretary
Lansing's first explanation the Brooklyn
Daily Eagle, Democratic newspaper
and staunch supporter of the admins
traitor, said:
he explanation which Mr.. Lansing
offers Tor the sending of the note is even
more significant than the note itself
More and more, he says, "our rights
are becoming involved by the belliger.
ents on 9th sides, so that the situation
Is becoming increasingly critical" And
TO this he adds: 1--WE are drawing near
er the verge Of war ourselves, and there
tore We are entitled to know exactlv
what each belligerent seeks In order to
regulate our conduct in the future"
These are alarming words. If thew
mean anything at all they mean that the
9taEe department is in the possession of
Iacts constituting very grave crisis.
what are those facts? Why hint darklv
at them instead of revealing them to the
people who must pay the price of any
"9f1 Is Inc situation worse than it was
When scores of American lives were
WantonIy sacrificed on the Lusitania? Is
IL more critical than it was when. that
unparalleled atrocity was followed hv
outrages differing from it in degree. but
not IN kind? If so, we are entitled to
Know the truth and to know it without
loss Of time. WORDS that brighten with
out enilghtening should not be employed
oy the Secretary of State.
The Lewiston Sun, also Democratic
newspaper, says of, the Presidents Note:
lhls Note illustrates again the fright
fui power III the hands of the President
OF the United States.
1hls is peace note; it might have
been a war note. Even in its present
peaceful form, it might get us into diff
Guilty second only to the beginning of
war
The bad thing about it is the SUNRISE
~ raises again the question, What do we
mean When we talk about government
py The people? This American peonle
That Is supposed to govern wakes up this
morning to find that the Government has
cone something it had not ordered. nor
demanded, nor hoped for, but is now
committed to.
Whlle the country was commencing
me president on the good judgment he
al shown in forwarding the Kaiser's
peace proposal to other nations without
Flofe Or comment Ibis Note was in prep
'aratlon or on its way. He regards the
great war in Europe as the street spec-
tator does dog fight He recognizes
no distinction between the opposing
sides They are just fighting, and he
does rot know what for. Yet all the
word knows that Germany he'd for
twenty-five or more years been prepar-
ing for war of aggression and conquest;
that great war fund had been accumu.
lated, vast stores of munitions and war
engines created and that she seized what
she considered an opportupe time to
start her armies for Paris, invading Bel.
gum in violation of treaty obligations,
and that on sea and land she has systa-
matlcally disregarded the rules made by
centuries of civilization. This country
has cause to remember the sinking of
the Lusitania, and only the other day
German submarine torpedoed and sank