The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-04

compromise as were entered into at the
congress of Vienna.
The thought of the plain people
here and everywlD IRE throughout the
world, the people who Djoy no privi
lege and have very simple and unso
phisticated standards of right and
wrong, is the air all governments must
henceforth breathe II they would live
| II is in the full disclosing light of that
thought that all policies must be con.
ceived and executed in this midday
hour of the worlds life.
| German People i'm Prison.
German rulers have been able to
| upset the peace of the world only be-
cause the German people were not suf-
fered under their tutelage TO share the
comradeship of the other peoples of
the world, either in thought or in pur-
pose They were allowed to have no
opinion of their own which might be
set up as a rule for conduct for those
who exercised authority over them. But
the congress that concludes this war
will feel the full strength of the tides
| that run now In the hearts and consci-
ence of freemen everywhere. Its con-
clusion will run those tides.
IAN these things have been true from
the very beginning of this stupendous
war: and | cannot help thinking that
IL they had been made plain at the very
outset the sympathy and enthusiasm Of
the Russian people might have been
once for all enlisted on the side of the
allies and suspicion and distrust swept
away, and real and lasting union Of
purpose effected. Had they believed
these things at the very moment of
L a III.
firmed in that belief since, the sad re-
verses which have recently marked the
progress of their affairs towards an or
dered and stable government of free
men might have been avoided. The
Russian people have been poisoned by
the very same falsehoods that have kept
the German people in the dark, and
the poison has been administered by the
very same hands. The only possible
antidote is the truth. 1t cannot be ut
tered too plainly or too often.
Rights of All Nations.
From every point of view there
fore, it has seemed to be my duty to
speak these declarations of purpose, to
add these specific interpretations to
which l took liberty of saying to the
senate in January. Our entrance into
the war has not altered out attitude
when it is over.
when said in January that the ma.
tions of the world were entitled not
only TO free pathways upon the sea,
but also to assured and unmolested ac-
cess to these pathways. was thinking,
and / am thinking now, not of the
smaller and weaker nations alone, which
need our countenance and support but
also of the great and powerful nations,
ana or our present enemies as well as
our present associates in the war.
Il was thinking. and am thinking
now, of Austria herself, among the
rest. as well as of Serbia and of Poland.
Justice and equally of rights can be
had only at a great price. We are
seeking permanent, not temporary
foundations for the peace of the world.
and must seek them candidly and fear.
lessly.
"Austria-Hungary is for the time be-
ing not her own mistress, but simply
the vassal of the German government.
We must face the facts as they are
and act on them without sentiment in
TINS stern business, The government
OF Austria Hungary IS not acting upon
ITS own initiative, or in response to the
wishes and feelings of its own peoples
put as the instrument of another ma.
ton. We must meet its force with our
own and regard the central powers as
but one.
The war can be successfully con-
Quoted in no other way. The same
logic would lead also to a declaration
of war against Turkey and Bulgaria
They also are the tools of Germany
But they are mere tools, and do not
yet stand in the direct path of our nee
essary action. We shall go wherever
the necessities of this war carry US,
but it seems to me that we should go
only where immediate and practical
considerations lead us. and not heed
any others.
The financial and military measures
which must be adopted will suggest
themselves as the war and its under
takings develop. but / will take the
liberty of proposing to you certain 9TH
er accounts of legislation. which seem
Go me to be needed for the support of
the war and for the release of our
whole force and means.
1T will be necessary to extend in GER
tain particulars the legislation of the
last session with regard TO alien enc
mics, and also necessary. / believe, TO
create very definite and particular
control over the entrance and departure
Of all persons into and from the United |
States.
Legislation should be enacted de-
ining as a criminal offense every will
'ul violation of the presidential procla- |
nations relating to all enemies prornul- |
gated under section 4067 Of the revised /
statutes. and providing appropriate pun
shments. and women. as well as men
should be included under the terms