The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-01-08

In the slightest degree compromising
the neutrality of this country.
1t Is the peculiar feature of this war
acknowledged by everybody, that no
one knows the object for which it is
waged. l am not now discussing how
it was provoked. That is matter
which will be determined by poster
ity whose judgments are infallible, in
exorable and irreversible. But it is
an astounding fact that this conflict,
which has already caused the most
extensive injury to property and life
ever inflicted upon the human family,
is waged without any definite object
that either belligerent has specified
or avowed.
We have, indeed, heard from one
side that peace will never be made I'M
til a certain brand of "militarism" is
destroyed, weak nations given char
ter of liberty" and "all nations guar
anteed the right to pursue in freedom
and safety the pathway of civiliza-
tion." And we have heard another
side declare that this war will not be
ended until it's Legitimate place in
the sun" has been secured, freedom
of the seas" established and the iron
ring hostility" with which it believes
itself to have been surrounded is shat
tered to pieces. But all these phrases
indicate merely a state of mind, not
any definite purpose. They belong to
that order of expressions, sonorous but
vague and utterly meaningless, by
which nations no less than individuals
often seek to disguise from them
selves, as we'll as from others, pur-
poses which if candidly avowed would
shock the consciences even of those
intent on them.
1t Is very necessary to point out
here and to emphasize that there are
but three conditions which conquer
ing nation can impose on PROSTATE
nation, or a strong nation exact from
a weak one: annexation of it's terri
tory, which, of course, includes the
people inhabiting it; seizure of it's
property, in the form of warships or of
money exacted as indemnity; destruc-
ton of it's property, which comprises
sinking of it's ships or dismantling of
it's fortresses.
Now surely the human family which
has already suffered such appalling
losses of men, and of capital amount
ing to twenty billion dollars from it's
industrial forces, and which is threat
ened with the dreadful possibility of
losing many millions more men, and
practically the total extinction of Eu-
ropean capital, has right to know
the precise conditions on which can
be ended the war, that has brought
upon it all these disasters, actual and
potential Above all, the President of
these United States-as head of the
nation holding first place in the fam
lily of nations-Whose attempts to
maintain neutrality have been embar-
raised and may yet be frustrated by
unforeseen incidents (Which these bel
ligerents themselves may not be able
to avoid) has the right to ask that
each side state frankly and fully what
it seeks to achieve by this war-that
is to say the terms on which it would
make peace. Such request on his
part would not be an act of hostility
, to either side, but an act of benevo.
lence and of justice to the entire hu.
man family, including the belligerents
themselves. Remember, it is not for
moment suggested that he should
undertake to prescribe the terms OF
peace. That would be attempting to
assume himself the very power which
these belligerents are fighting to &C
Quire, and to obtain which they have
plunged the world in this dreadful
strife. But SO long as no attempt is
made to indicate or even influence the
terms of peace, no belligerent could
complain of being asked to state just
what it would require before consent
ing to lay down arms, since the state
ment of it's demands might be the
very means of obtaining them
A request that each side disclose
the conditions on which it would con
sent to peace would not, of course, be
answered, by repetitions of those So
norous but vague expressions of which
all the belligerents have been prolific
but which instead of defining the real
objects for which they are battling
have served merely to obscure them
The only answer which would fully
meet such a request by the President
is clear, definite statement by each
side of the exact territory that it de.
mands for itself or of which it wishes
to deprive the other; the precise
amount of money it would require, the
number of ships to be surrendered or
sunk; the particular fortresses it
wants destroyed. And 1 venture this
prediction: Should the President in.
duce all these belligerents to state
definitely in terms of territory in.
demnity or property, the conditions
of peace they are ready to accept, the
demands on both sides would prove to
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