The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-11-09

Neutrality IL no longcr feasible or
desirable where the peace OF the world
II inNOlved and the freedom of its pcO-
pies, aud the menace to that peace and
freedom lies la the existence OF auto
cratic governments, backed by organ
ised force which is controlled wholly
by their will, not by the will of their
people. We have seen the last oG neu-
irsilty IN such circumstances. We are
at the beginning of age In which it
will he insisted thnt the same stand
ards of conduct and of responsibility
for wrong done shall be observed
among nations and their governments
that are observed among the Individual
citizens of civilized states.
We have no quarrel with the German
people. We have no feeling toward
them but one OF sympathy and friend
ship II was not upon their impulse
that their government acted in enter
ing the war. II was not with their
previous knowledge or approval It
was a war determined upon as wars
used to be determined upon in the old
unhappy days. when peoples were no.
where consulted by their rulers and
wars were provoked and waged in the
interest OF dynasties or OF little groups
of ambitious men who were accustomed
to use their fellow men as pawns and
tools
hbt
neiRhbOr states with spies set the
course Of intrigue TO bring about some
critical posture of affairs which will
give then, an opportunity 10 strike and
make conquest. such designs can be
successfully worked out only under
cover and where one has the rig hi
to nsk questions. Cunningly contrlyed
plans Of deception aggression, car
ried, IL may be from generation TO gen
Grafton. he NNOrLed and Kent
from the light only within the privacy
OF courts ar behind the carefully guard
ed condolences of narrow md prlNi-
legged class. They nre happily impossl-
bic where public opinion commands Rnd
insists upon full Information concern
ing all the nations affairs.
stendfnst concert for peace can
never be maintained except by IA pnrt-
nership of democratic nations. NO Gu-
tocrnttc government could be trusted
to keep faith within IL or observe Its
covenants. II must be League of
honor, partnership of oplnion. In
triEue wouid eat Its Vitals awayi the
plottings of inner circles who could
plan what they would, and render nc
count TO no one, would he corruption
sented at it's very heart. Only free peo-
pie can hold their purpose and their
LODOr steady to common end, ana
prefer the interest of mankind 10 any
narrow interest of their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added to our hope
for the future peace OF the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
last few weeks in Russia? Russia was
known by those who knew her best
to have been always in fact democratic
at heart In nll vital habits of her
thought. I'm all the intimate relation
HI ~ Ia l,.f q
natural instinct, their habitusl attitude
toward life. The autocracy that crown
ed the summit of her political struc-
ture, long ms it had stood and terrible
was the reality Of it's power, was
not In fact Russian In origin, charac-
ter. or purpose. and now IL has been
shaken of and the great generous Rus
sim people have been added, In all
their native majesty and might. TO the
forces that are Hghting for freedom In
the world, for justice, and for pence.
Here is a At partner for a league of
honor.
One of the things that have served
to convince that the Prussian auto
cracy was not and could never be our
friend f. that from the very outset Of
the present war II has nIIed our un-
suspecting communities. md even our
Offices of government, with spies and
set criminal intriGues everywhere nfOot
against our national unity of counsel,
our pence within and without. our In
dustries. and our commerce. Indeed II
IL now evident that Its spies were here
even before the war began and II In
unhappily not n matter of conjecture,
hut a fact proven in our courts Of jus
tice, that the intrigues which have
more than once come perilously near to
the pence and disiocstfnE
the Industries OF the country, have been
support, and even under the personal
directions of Official agents of the Inn
perinI government accredited 10 the
government OF the United States.
Even in checking these things and
trying to extirpnte them we have
sought to put the most generous inter
probation possible upon them, because
we knew that their source lay not In
any hostile feeling or purpose of the
German people toward us (who were,
no doubt, NJ ignorant of them as we
ourselves were), but only In the selfish
designs Of government that did what
IL pleased and told it's people nothing.
hut they have played their part In serv-
Ing TO conyince us mt last that that
government entertnins no real friend
ship for us and means TO act against
our peace and security at Its convent
ence. That IL means TO stir up enemies
against US mt our very doors, the In
tercepted note to the German minister
st Mexico City r. eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
I'm such q government, following such
metbOds, we can never have friend,
md that In the presence of Its Orgnn-
tied power, always lying In wait to
accomplish we know not what pur-
pose. there can be no assured security
for the democratic governments OF the
world. We are now about to accept
the gage of battle with the natural foe
to liberty, and shall. II necessary spend
the whole force OF the nation to check
and nullify it's pretensions and its pow
er. We are glnd now that We see the
facts with veil of false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the uItI-
mate peace of the world and for the
liberation Of its peoples, the German
tions, grent and small. and the priyf-
Iege OF men everywhere to choose their
why of life md of obedience.
The world must be made safe for
democracy. It's peace must be planted
upon the tested foundations OF political
We have no selfish ends to
serve. We desire no conquests no
dominion. We seek no indemnities for
ourselves, no material compensation
for the sacrifices we shall freely make.
We are but one OF the champions of
the rights Of mankind. We shall be
satisfied when those rights have been