Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-12-08


believe It is necessary 10 say plainly
what we here at the seat Of action
consider the war to be for and what
Part we mean to play in the settle,
ment of its searching issues. We
are the spokesmen Of the American
people, and they have Il right to
know whether Their purpose is ours
They desire peace by the overcom.
ing Of evil, by the defeat once for
all OF the sinister forces that inter
rnpt peace and render It impossible,
| and they wish to know how closely
our thought runs with theirs and
what action we propose. They arc
inpatient with those who desire
peace by any sort Of compromise
deeply and Indignantly Impatient
but they will he equally impatient
with us il we do not make it plain
To them what our detectives are and
whit we are planning for in seeking
TO make a conquest Of peace by
arms.
Sreaks for Americans.
believe that speak for them
when say two things: First. that
this intolerable Thing of which the
masters Of Germany have shown Us
the ugly face. this menace of com.
binea intrigue and force which we
now see so clearly as the German
power, a Thing without conscience
or honor or capacity for coveaanted
peace, most be Crushed, ard, If Il be
rot utterly brought 10 an end, az
least shut out from the friendly in
t~ercourge of the nations; and sec
ond that when this Thing and its
lower are indeed defeated and the
time comes that we can discuss
p~eace-when the German people
have spokesmen whose word we can
believe and when those spokesman
are ready in the name OF their PEG
ple Ia accent the common Judgment
Of The nations as to what shall hence
forth be the bases of law and OF COW
enant for the life Of the world-we
shall be willing and glad to pay the
full price for peace, and pay 1t IN.
~grudgingly. We know what that
price will be. 1t will be full, I'M
martial justice-justice done at every
point and to every nation that the
final settlement must affect, our enc
mics as well as our friends.
You catch, with me, the voices OF
humanity that are in the air. They
grow daily more audible, more arti
culate. more persuasive, and they
come from the hearts OF men every
where. They insist that the war
shall not end in vindfctive action or
any kind: that no nation OF people
shall be robbed Or punished because
the irresponsible rulers OF a single
country have themselves done deep
and abominable wrong. 1t Is TINS
thought that has been expressed In
the formula mo -annexations. no con-
tributions. no punitive indemnities.
Just because this crude formula ex'
/, presses the instructive Judgment as
; right Of plain men everywhere 1t
has been made diligent use OF by the
masters OF German intrigue to e
!. the people OF Russia ~aatray-and the
people of every other country their
, agents could reach, in order that a
r premature peace might be brought
/. about before qutoeracy has bee,
!. taught its final and convincing les
!. son, and the people of the world put
/. in control of their own destinies.
Patronage Of Real Friends
? but the fact that a wrong use has
l been made OF a just idea is no rea'
I sen Why a right use should not be
+ made OF IL. 1t ought to be brought
. under the patronage of It's real
friend. Let it be said again that
~autocracy must first be shown the
: utter futillty OF its claim TO power
or Leadership in the modern world
It is impossible to apply any standard
! OF justice so long as such forces are
{ unchecked and indicated as the
J. present ma Of Germany com
mand. Not until that has been done
} can right be set up as arb'ter and
: reace-naker among the nations. But
when that has been done-as, God
willing. il assuredlY viii be-we