The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-04
VICTORY IN WAR TO RIGHT GREAT WRONG
h. R.S|DENI'S MESSAGE ASKS CONGRESS
| TO DECLARE WAR On AUSTRIA HUNGARY
that when thls thing and its power
are Indeed defeated and the time

that when thls thing and lts power
are indeed defeated and the time
comes that we can discuss peace
when the German people have spoken
whose WORD VIC can believe and when
those spokesmen are ready In the
name Of their people to accept the
common Judgment Of the nationa as
to what henceforth be the basis OF
law and of covenant for the life OF
the worid-we shall be willing and
glad to pay the full price for peace
and pay It ungrudsinsly. We know
what that price will be. slt Will be
full, Impartial Justice-justice done al
every point and to every nation thai
the final settlement must affect our
enemies az we'll as our frlenda
"You catch, with me, tho voices OF
humanity that are In the air. They
arrow daily more audible, moro artlc.
ulate, more persuasive and they come
from the hearts Of men everywhere.
They Insist that the war shall not
end In indicative action Of any Kind,
robbed or punished because tho IRE
sponsIbie rulers Of a single country
have, themselves, done deep and
AOOUVn001V Su0s - - e'''S s''O~S 80
that has been expressed In the for
muIas, no annexation, no contribution
no punt ve lndemnlties.
"Just because this crude formula
expresses the Instructive Judgment
as to right Of plain men everywhere
It has been made dilioent use OF by
lead the people of Russia, aetray-
xL> AAa~i> a$ ava n$hAp enlIntrv
their agents could reach, In order
that q prema ature peace might be
brouaht about before autocracy has
been taught Rs final and convincing
lesson and the people Of the Morld
put Iii control or thesf UvlT'- -6estfntes
"But the fact that 4 wrong use
has been made of Just Idea 10 no
reason why right use should not
be made Of It 1t ought to be
brought under the patronage Of It's
real frIends. Let 1t be said again
that autocracy must first be shown
the utter futiIIty Of it's claims to
power or leadership in the modern
world. Il is impossible to apply any
standard Of Justice 80 long as such
forceA are unchecked and undefeated
as the present masters Of Germany
command. Not until that has bee:
done, can right be set up as arblter
and peace maker among the nations.
But when that has been done-and,
God willing, 1t assuredly will be-we
shall at least be free to do an un-
precedented thing and this Is the
time to avow our purpose to do It.
We shall be free to base peace on
generosity and Justice, to the exclu-
sion Of all selfish claims to advan-
taqe even on the part Of the vlctors.
OUR PRESENT TASK.
"Let there be no Misunderstanding.
Our present and Immediate task is
to win the war and nothing shall
turn s aside from it until it is accom-
plished. Every power and resource
we possess whittier Of men or money
or Of materials, Is being devoted ana
Will continue to be devoted to that
purpose until it is achieved. Those
who desire to bring peace about be.
fore that purpose is achieved, | coun-
sci to carry their advice elsewhere.
We will not entertain 1t. We shaI.
regard the war as won only when the
German people say to US, through
properly accredited representative
that they are ready to agree to a
settlement based upon Justice and
the reparation of the wrongs their
rulers have done-> They have done
wrong to Belgium which must be
repaired. They have established a
power over other lands and peoples
!, than their own-over the great en-,
pIre of Austria-Hunsary; over hither
to free Balkan states, over Turkey
and within Asia-which must be re-
linquished.
SUCCESS WHILE AT PEACE.
"Germany's success by Skill by
industry, by knowledge, by enter.
prise we did not grudge or oppose,
but admired, rather. She had built
up for herself real empire of trade
and influence, secured by the peace
Of the world. We were content to
abide the rivaIries of manufacture,
science and commerce that were in
voIved for US in her success and
stand or fall as we had or did not
have the brains and the Initiative to
surpass her. But at the moment
when she had consplcuousIy won
her triumphs of peace she threw
them away, to establish In their
stead what the world will no LONGER
permit to be established, military
and political domination by arms, by
which to GUST where she could not
excel the rivals she most feared and
hated. The peace we make must
remedy that wrong. 1t must deliver
the once fair lands and happy peoples
Of Belgium and northern France from
the Prussian conquest and the Prus-
sian menace, but It must also deliver
the peoples of Austria-Hunaary, the
peoples OF the Balkans and the
peopIes Of Huxley alike In Eurnna