Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-08
The Allies Acquiesce.

The Allies Aequiesce.
From the tenor of dispatches, and
comment in the press of Europe, it
may he said that President Wilson'S
mes.age has put new heart into every
l"4.,y opposed to the Central Allies in
Guiding tho governments of the various
nations. the armies in the field. and the
People themselves 1t is significant to
them all that with the ever increasing
number uf American fighters and
amount of munitions landed on French
soil every utterancc of the American
government is stronger in its deter
niii ion to accom- piish the purpose for
WHICH the American people entered the
wa. Perhaps the strongest utterance
al the press Of London is embodied in
the editorial comment of the Daily
News which said: ut would be af-
foctation to pretend that this language
echoes tho declarations of European
spokesman of the alliance. 1t is the
voice OF a statesman, whose vision
comprehends the world. while theirs
comprehends only half the world"
The independence Beige, a Belgian
that if President Wilson's message
could be submitted to the people of the
central allies without mutilation, the
peace idea would be seriously ad
vanced, because the German people
are too intelligent not to realize that
none but Mr.. Wilson's formula will be
able to secure durable peace"
Frank comment from the press Of
Paris, London and other capitals makes
the claim safe that the thinking people
OF the allied countries are now ready
to accept the American President as
spokesman for the allies. Everywhere
the verdict is general that Mr.. Wilson
has made a marked advance over any
utterance hitherto made by an allied
statesman, and perhaps the most eX-
traordinary thing is that the allied
governments of Europe are content to
ncquiesce In President Wilson's in
tellectual and moral leadership. To
us, it is a sign that the world is max
ing progress, and that the allied ma
tions are ready to accept moral con-
siderations to which they would not
have listened three years ago. two
years, or even one year ago. We do
not mean by this that they are weak
ening in their war determinations, but
that they are seeing more clearly the
outline Of better things for humanity
in a perpetual peace that shall be led
and forced by the people of the United
States.
While the American Presidents adj
dress to the world through an Amer
lean Congress was direct belligerent
and forceful in every sentence, and
every expression of determination to
fight until the war is won for lasting
overwhelmingly message Of unyield-
ing war intent to the last word-yet
the door of peace is left wide open to
Germany, and to Austria Hungary on
which the President made formal re-
quest for congressional declaration Of
war. From this message the Imperial
governments of Germany and Of
Austria can learn the full terms on
which peace can be made with their
enemies. Without equivocation, the
whole matter is put before them. The
essentials are infiexibly laid down, yet
they are not unduy severe. An equal
~ frank reply from the German and
Austrian rulers, without beating about
settlement OF the controversy that is
costing the lives of scores of thous
snds of men and the expenditure of
hundreds Of millions of dollars every
day
The spokesman Of the American
people, and apparently acceptably the
spokesman of the allies, has laid down
the rule under which the central en-
pires Of Europe may obtain peace. The
decision is up to the war masters Of
Prussia.