Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1916-06-02

concert when any nation or group OF
nations seeks to disturb those fundar
mental things can we feel that ctvtu-
zation is at last In way of justify.
ing it's existence and claiming to be
finally established. 1t is clear that
nations must in the future be govern
ed by the same high code of honor
that we demand of individuals.
I'VE must, indeed, in the very same
breath with which we avow this con-
viction admit that we have ourselves
upon occasions in the past been Of
tenders against the law of diplomacy
which we thus forecast; but our con.
viction is not the less clear, but rather
the more clear on that account. II
this war has accomplished nothing
else for the benefit of the world. it
has at least disclosed great moral
necessity and set forward the think
ing statesmen of the world by whole
age, Repeated utterance of the lead
ing statesmen of most of the great
nations now engaged in the war have
made it plain that their thought has
come to this, that the principle of
public right must henceforth take
precedence over the individual inter.
est of particular nations, and that the
nations of the world must in some
way band themselves together to see
that that right prevails as against any
sort of selfish aggression; that hence
forth alliance must not be set up
against alliance, understanding against
understanding, but that there must
be common agreement for common
object, and that at the heart of that
common object must lie the inviolable
rights of peoples and of mankind.
The nations of the world have become
each others neighbors. 1t is to their
interest that they should understand
each other. In order that they may
understand each other, it is impera.
tive that they should agree to cooper.
ate IN common cause, and that they
should so act that the guiding prin.
ciple of that common cause shall be
even handed and impartial Justice.
Right to Choose Sovereignty.
"This is undoubtedly the thought of
the American people. This is what
we ourselves will say when there
comes proper occasion to say it. In
the dealings of nations with one an.
other arbitrary force must be rejected
and we must move forward to the
thought of the modern world, that
thought of which peace is the very
atmosphere. That thought constitutes
chief part of the passionate convic.
ton of America.
1--WE believe these fundamental
things: first, that every people has a
right to choose the sovereignty under
which they shall live. Like other ma.
tions, we have ourselves, no doubt,
once and again offended against that
principle when for little while con-
trolled by selfish passion as our frank
er historians have been honorable
enough to admit; but it has become
more and more our rule of life and
action.
Second, that the small states of
the world have a right to enjoy the
same respect for their sovereignty
and for their territorial integrity that
great and powerful nations expect and
insist upon. And, third, that the world
has right to be free from every dis
turance of its peace that has its origin
in aggression and disregard of the
rights of peoples and nations.
$50 sincerely do we believe in the
things that am sure that speak the
mind and wish Of the people of Amer
lea when I say that the United States
is willing to become a partner in any
feasible association of nations formed
in order to realize the objects and
make them secure against violation.
There is nothing the United States
wants for itself that any other nation
has. We are willing, on the contrary,
to limit ourselves along with them to
a prescribed course of duty and re-
spect for the rights of others which
will check any selfish passion of our
own, as it will check any aggressive
impulse of theirs.
outIins a Program.
IF it should ever be our privilege
to suggest or initiate movement for
| peace among the nations now at war,
l am sure that the people of the Unit
ed States would wish their govern.
ment to move along these lines:
| First, such settlement with re.
gard to their own immediate interests
as the belligerents may agree upon.
We have nothing material of any kind
to ask for ourselves and are quite
aware that we are in no sense or de-
gree parties to the present quarrel.
Our interest Is only in peace and its
future guarantees. Second, q univer.
sal association Of the nations to main.
tain the inviolate security of the high.
way Of the seas for the common and
unhindered use Of all these nations
Of the world, and to prevent any wal
begun either contrary to treaty cove,
nants or without warning, and full
submission Of the causes to the opin,