The copper era and Morenci leader., 1916-12-22


 and 1t has created a new historical epoch, wherein precedents have been ruthlesSly swept aside in an audacious stand for the cause of humanity.
 As the world is made up of factions for and against peace, the action of the president will have many supporters. He will also be roundly criticized for taking the initiative in a mediation movement at this particular time, when the proposals for a conference has been submitted by the central powers and has been given such chilly reception by Great Britain, France, Russia and Italy, and because of the further fact that the en- tente countries have expressly declared that any effort by any neutral to interfere in their business would not be looked upon as a friendly act.
 To many students of the European war, the proposal of Germany that an arn1istice be declared while terms of peace are consid- cred is simply play for sympathy. But while any number of people in this country are heartily sick of the red carnage and express hopes for an early cessation of the bloodshed, there was little show of sympathy for the Prussfanism of Europe. The world generally does not agree with the assertions of the inn perial German chancellor that his country, with its allies, has been fighting defensive battle from the initiation of the war It can- not forget Belgium and Servia It cannot forget the inhuman submarine warfare It does not believe that the entente countries are responsible for the tremendous massacre It does not look upon the proposal for peace as being sincere The suppostion Is that Germany, feeling herself slipping before the offensive of the entente armies on the various fronts, seeks to establish herself in the eyes of the world and of history as having been successful and, also, humane. The kaiser cannot bring himself to admit that his mighty war machine has been met and defeated.
 On the other hand, the entente does not desire to talk peace at a time when the for tunes of war are swinging toward their cause. After sacrificing thousands of lives and un- told millions III money, they do not feel that they can agree to the proposal of the Ger man emperor that the Europe of today be agan restored to the position of the Europe of 1914, when the olive-colored hosts of the Prussian idea stalked through the land of King Alfred and laid waste to many of the most precious monuments of old-world glory. The allies can look upon the proposal for peace barley in other light than an effort on the part of Germany to shift the responsibility for continuation of the war onto their shoulders. This responsibility seems to have been very promptly and unani- mously accepted. England has declared that the future must be guaranteed; Russia has spurned the proposal as nsincere; France has declared that it means nothing; Italy cries; Stand firm"
 The views of those countries forced into a tremendous war by an uncompromising military system and the views of those peo- pie who stand on the side line and look on are considerably apart. We in in this country, even though we are in many ways involved in the conflict, are inclined to consider the hui mane side of the question, little thinking of the principles for which the allies are now sending their troops to the trenches to uphold, and little thinking what this means to this country The entente has declared that no peace can come until Prussian militarism has been forever crushed. The entente, nor no one else, has any fight with the German nor the Austrian people, as such. They are suf- ferlng as much are the allies. It is the ann bitlon of the emperor to rule the world by the force of his war machine which is being contested on every front at this time If this system is not annihilated, what may we expect in this country in the rft,t too distant future?
 With all these considerations in mind, which are only few appearing on the sur face of the conflict, like flash of lightning from clear sky comes proposal for medi- atlon from the greatest neutral-the notes having been dispatched before any one knew of the intention of the president. The embas-