The state herald., 1916-06-02
WILSON PROPOSES TERMS TOENDWAR|
President Declares g. Ready Sign Peace Agreement With
World Believes Nations Are Eagerly Awaiting Chance
to End Conflict and Lanih War Forever.

peace. and there Is just reason why
we should take our part In counsel
upon this great theme.
1T is right that !, as Spokesman Of
our government, should aim to give
expression to what believe to be the
thought and purpose OF the people OF
the United States In this vital matter.
This great war that broke SO sud.
denly upon the world two years ago
and which has swept within its flame
30 great a part of the civilized world
has affected US very profoundly and
We are not only at liberty, 1t Is per-
haps our duty to speak very frankly
OF 1t and Of the great interests Of
civilization which 1t affects.
with its causes and Its objects we
are not concerned. The obscure foun.
tains from which its stupendous flood
had burst forth we are not interested
to search for or explore. But so great
a flood. spread far and wide to every
quarter of the globe. has OF necessity
engulfed many fair province OF
right that lies very near to us.
Our Own Rights Affected.
"Our own rights as nation, the
liberties, the privileges and the prop
erty Of our people have been pro-
foundly affected. We are not mere
disconnected lo0kers-on. The longer
the war lasts. the more deeply do we
become concerned that 1t should be
brought to an end and the world be
permitted to resume its normal life
and course again.
And when It does come to an end,
we shall be as much concerned as the
nations at war to see peace assume
an aspect of permanence. give prom
Use Of days from which the anxiety
Of uncertainty shall be lifted. bring
some assurance that peace and war
shall always hereafter be reckoned
part OF the common interest Of man.
kind.
I'VE are participants, whether we
would or not. in the life Of the world.
The interests of all nations are our
own also. We are partners with the
rest. What affects mankind Is inevi-
tably our affair as well as the affair
Of the nations OF Europe and OF Asia.
Secret counseIs Planned.
"One observation on the causes Of
the present war we are at liberty to
make. and to make It may throw some
light forward upon the future as well
as backward upon the past. II is
plain that this war could have come
only as It did. suddenly and out Of
secret counsels. without warning to
the world. without discussion, with.
out any Of the deliberate movements
Of counsel with which It would seem
natural to approach so stupendous q
contest.
It is probable that II It had been
foreseen lust what would happen, just
what alliances would be formed. just
what forces arraycd against one an.
other. those who brought the great
contest would have been glad to sub
stitute conference for force. a..-
"If we ourselves had been afforded
some opportunity to apprise the bel
liFercnts OF the attitude Of which II
would be our duty to take. Of the pol
icies pnd practices against which we
would feel bound to use all our moral
rnd economic strength, and In GER
tain circumstances even our physical
strength also. our own contribution ia
the counsel which might have averied
the struggle would have been consid
tEtu with
New Code for Nations.
And the lesson which the shock Of
being taken by surprise In matter
10 deeply vital to all the nations OF
the world has made poienantly clear
In, that the peace OF the world must
henceforth depend upon new and
more wholesome diplomacy.
only when the great nations oi
the world have reached some sort OF
agreement ms to what they hold TO be
fundamental to their common inter
est and rs to some feasible method oi
acting In concert when any nation OF
group OF nations seeks TO disturb
those fundamental things. can we
feel that civilization IL at last In u
way OF justifying It's existence and
claiming to be finally established. II
In clear that nations must. IN the fu
ture. be governed by the same high
code OF honor that we demand OF In
dlviduals.
I'VE must. indeed. In the very same
breath with which we avow this con
viction admit TINT we have ourselves
upon occasion In the past been offend
ers agninst the law OF diplomacy
which We tnub Iorechst' Dill our con
victIon Is not the less clear. but
rather. the more clenr. on that nc
count.
Foresees Great Change.
but did not come here to repent
program. came only TO avow n
creed and give expression to the con
fidence that feel that tho world IL
now upon the owe OF grent consum'
mrtion. when some common force
will be brought into existence which
will safeguard right ms tho first md
most fundamental interest Of NIL peo'
pie and all governments. when coer'
cion shall be summoned not TO the
service OF political ambition or self
ish hostility. but to tho service OF n
common order. n common Justice. and
common peace.
God grant that tho dawn Of that
day OF frank dealing and OF settled
pence, concord md cooperation may
be near nt hand"
President Wilson was introduced BY
former President william II. TAFT.
who In head Of tho League TO Enforce
pcnre and fnuny of the nations most