New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-12-30

l they are prepared to involve Eu
: rope in the horrors Of a coniif
, uance of the war. possibly TO
= another two or three years.
"This situation is intolerabl,
, to every humane man. You, sir
can put an end to it. Your pow
err constitutes an opportunity ant
a responsibility; and from YOU
previous actions | feel confidep
that you will use your power
with a degree Of wisdom and nu
mainly rarely to be found among
statesmen.
In all the belligerent countries
soldiers who are wounded OF
home on leave express an utter
loathing of the trenches, a DIES.
pair of ever achieving q military
decision. and q terrible longing
for peace.
Our militarists have success
fully oppose! the granting Ut
votes to soldiers. yet in all the
countries an attempt is made to
persuade the civilian population
that warweariness is confined to
the soldiers of the enemy. Ev-
erywhere friends Of peace are met
with the diabolical argument that
the brave men who have died
must not have shed their blood
in vain. And so every impulse
of mercy toward the soldiers who
are still living is dried up and
withered by false and barren
loyalty to those who are past our
help. Even the men hitherto re-
tanned for making munitions, for
dock labor. and for other pur-
poses essential to the prosecution
Of war are gradually being draf-
ted INTO the armies and replaced
by women, with the sinister threat
Of colored labor in the back
ground.
May Fall as Rome Did.
"There is very real danger
that. if nothing is done to check
The fury Of national passions, Eu.
ropean civilization as we have
known it will perish as complete
y as it persisted when Rome fell
before the barbarians.
From considerable perYonal
experience, reinforced by ali that
can learn from others, I believe
hat the desire for peace Il almost
Universal not only the soldiers.
nut throughout the wags-earn.
ng classes and especially IN in. {
lustrial districts. In spite Of high
ages and steady employment. Il
plebiscite Of tho nation were /,
aiken on the question whether No. j
citations should b initiated. III
m confident that an overwhclm- I
~ majority would be in favor Of &
his course and that the Same ID /
rue Of France, Germany and !,
Iastria-H Hungary. q
IF the German Government, {
$ now seems likely, would not a
My restore conquered territory.
ut also give it's adherence to the 4
ague to enforce peace or some
milar method Of settling dis
ates without war. fear would be e
layed and it is almost certain B
lat an offer Of mediation from t,
,u would give rise to an IRE \
stible movement in favor Of ne a
citations. But the deadlock is s,
ch that no near end Of the war O.
likely except through the "
ediation Of an outside Power; il
ID such mediation can only come 81
ON you. al
Some may ask by what right Il
address you. I have no formal OF
lie. | am not any part Of the lie
achinery Of government. l en-
eak only because I must; be- la
use others. who should have re tn
,mbered civilization and human II
otherhood, have allowed them
YES to be swept away by ma W
nal passion; because | am com. at
lied by their apostacy to speak W
the name Of reason and mercy, NJ
I it should be thought that no tin
9 in Europe remembers the a
'rk which Europe has done and Ii
,uld do for mankind. vii
Like the rest Of my country Sp
ST