The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-20

....,, sueh a peace? Was there hint oi
rsstitutionY Was there a suggestion OF repa-
rationy Was there an implication OF any Sc
surity for the future. that this outrase on
clvilixntion would not again be serpetraiea ~
the first profitable opportunity .,.
The very substance ana style OF ths Hlces"
constitutes a denial Of peace on the only teIllls
on which peace IA possible. he y no, ssen i
rooneious now that Germany has committed
sny ofrense against the rights OF free nations;
q Not for an instant have they 1.-THE central
powers) swerved from the conviction thht IT,
spect OF the rights OF other nsuoN n9s ~
any degree Incompatible WIN theh own i""s
and legitimate interents.'
when did they discover this where wss
respect for the rights Of other nations IN BEL
gium and Serbia That was seii-aeiense, '','. mJn
of Belgium | suppose the oermana had been
intimidated into invading Belgium and burning
belgium cities a.i villages, into massaerelns
thousands OF the Inhabitants. old and youhs'
into carrying of the survivors into bondage
Yea and they were carrying them into slavery
at the very moment when TINS note was wiz y.
ten about their unswerving conviction as 70
the respect due the rights OF other nations
Are these ortrages the legitimate interest
of Germany? We must know. That Is not
moment for peace. II excuses OF this kiho ior
palpable crimes can be put forward two anu u
half years after exposure by the grim faces Is
there any guarantee that similar subteriuges
will not be used in the future 10 overthrow
any treaty OF peace you may enter into with
Prussian militarlsmY =.
not yet learned the alphabet Of respect for the
rights Of others.
'sWithout reparation. peace Is impossible.
Are all these ontrages against humanity on
phrases about humanity Germany leaves US
10 exact the damage for all future violence
committed after the war. We must exact II
now, as not TO leave such grim hheri@
ance TO our children.
much as we all long for peace. deeply as we
are Mortified with wat. this note and speech
which heralded II do not afford us much en-,
couragement to hope for an honorable and
"sVb What Thor hope is given in fhe speech that the
whole root and cause of this great bitterness,
the arrogant spirit of the Prlssian military
caste will not be ss dominLlst as ever II we
match nm peace now The very speech in
which these peace suV yestions are made re-
sounds 10 the boast Of Prussian military tn.
unph 1t is long paean over the victory OF
I'VE must keen a steadfast eye upon the
purpose for which we entered the war; other
wise the great sacrifices we have been mAkihg
will be in vain. The German note states that
IL WAS for the defense of their existence ana
the freedom of national development that the
central powers were constrained to take up
arms Such phrases are intended 10 deiude
the German nation into supporting the designs
Of the Prussian military caste. Who ever
wished IL nut an end to their national exist
ence or freedom of development2 We well
coined their development so leng as II was on
the paths Of peace.
rome against the aggression of Prussan MILF
tary domination and having begun 1t they
must insist that the only end Is the most COM
pete effective guarantee against the po4sloll'.y
Of that caste ever agsia disturbing the peace OF
Furoue Prussia since she got into the hands
of that caste has been b. neighbor, AFRO
CANT threatening, bullying. shifting her bound
aries nt her will and taking one field after an
other from her weaker neighbors ana adnihs
them TO her own dominions.
with her belt ostentauously full OF weapons
of ofTense and ready at q moments notice 70
use them. she has always been an unpleasant,
distnrbing neighbor in Europe. She got thor
oughly on the nerves of Europe there was no
peace near where she dwelt. II u dtfteult for
those who are fortunate enough TO live thou
sands of miles away 20 understand what u mas
meant tn those who live near.
Even here, with the protection Of the broad
seas between us, we know what a disturbing
factor the Prussians were with their constant
naval menace But we can hardly realize
what IL mean to France and Russia. Several
times there we're threats directed against them
even within the lifetime OF this generation
which presented the alternative OF war or hu,
initiation. There We're many OF US who hopeo
that the internal influence In Germany would
be strong enough to check and ultimately "a
eliminate it.
snow that this great war has been forced BY
the PrtIssian leaders. IL would be folly not to
soc 10 il that this swashbuckling through the
streets of Europe and this disturbance OF peace
ful citizens was dealt with here and now as
the most serious offense against the law oi
nations.
1--WE will wait until we hear what terms ana
guarantees the German government otter othei
than those better than those, surer than those
which she so lightly broke. And meanwhile W.
| shall put oar trust in our uubroken army
rather than in broken faith.
For the moment do not think it would bt
| advisable for me to add anything upon thi'
,fxF will H.
| delivered by the allies in the course of the nex
| few days"