The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-27


it. But they owe it to them
selves and to the other nations OF
the world to state the conditions un
der which they feel free to render it
That service Is nothing less thar
this: To add their authority and
thoir power to the authority and fore.
Of other nations to guarantee peac.
and justice throughout the world
Such settlement can not now be long
postponed. It il right that before ii
comes this government should frani:
ly formulate the conditions upon
which It would feel justified in ask
ing our people to approve it's forma
and solmen adherence to a league 70
peace. I am here to attempt to state
those conditions.
The present war must first be end
ed; but we owe 1t to candor and to
just regard for the opinion of man.
kind to say that so far as our partici
patton in guarantees of future peac,
Is concerned. 1t makes a great deal o
difference in what way and upon what
terms 1t is ended. The treaties anf
agreements which bring 1t to an enc
must embody terms which will create
q peace that is worth guaranteeing
and preserving. a peace that will wir
the approval Of mankind, not merely
q peace that will serve the several In
terests and immediate aims Of tn
nations engaged. We shall have Ii
voice In determining what thos
terms shall be. but we shall. fee
sure. have q voice in determining
whether they shall be made lastlr:
or not by the guarantees Of a uni
versal covenant; and our judgmer'
upon what Is fundamental and essen
tial an condition precedent to- per
manency should be spoken now, no 7
afterwards. when 1t may be too late
mo covenant OF cooperative peac'
that does not include the peoples OF
the new world can sufficc to keey
the future safe against war; and ye
there is only one sort of peace tina
the people of America could join In
The elements of this
peace must be elments that engage
the confidence and satisfy the prin
ciples Of the American governments
elements consistent with their politi
cal faith and the practical convic
tions which the peoples Of Americc
have once for all embraced and un.
dertaken to defend.
II do not mean to say that an,
American government would throv
any obstacles in the way of any term
Of peace the governments now a
war might agree upon. or seek to ur
set them when made. whatever they
might be. only take 1t for granted
that mere terms Of peace between thc
bellieerents will not satisfy even til
belligerents themselves. Mere agree
ments may not make peace secure
1t will be absolutely necessary thai
force be created as q guarantor o.
the permanency Of the settlement so
much greater than the force of an.
nation now engaged or any allanc'
formed or projected that n
nation. or probable combination o
nations. could face or withstand i,
II the peace presently to be made
10 endure. it must be a peace mad,
secure by the organized major fore,
Of mankind.
THE terms Of the immediat
peace agreed upon will desermin
1t Is peace for which sue!
I guarantee can be secured Th
question upon which the whole fu-
lure peace and policy Of the worf
depends Is this: Is the present wa
struggle for a just and secure peace
DR. only for a new balance of power
II 1t be only a struggle for ne
balance of power who will guarante,
who can guarantee, the stable equil
orium Of the new arrangement On
l tranquil Europe can be a stab
Europe. There must be. not a bal
lnce Of power. but a community
power. not organized rivalriCs. bu
IN organized common peace.
Fortunately we have received ver
explicit assurances on this point. III
'tatesmen Of both Of the groups
,ations now arrayed against one AZ
'ther have said in terms that coul
lot be misinterpreted. that 1t was n
'art of the purpose they had in min
o crush their antagonists. But thc
of these assurances MAJ
lot be equally clear to all, mcy no
70 the same on both sides Of the W.
er. think II will be serviceahle
attempt to set forth what we W
4. thotp tn ho