Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-31

just regard Tor Tie opinion 81 mankind
to say that so far rs our participation
In guarantees of future peace is con
cerned 1t makes a great deal of differ
ence in what way and upon what terms
1t is ended. The treaties and agree
ments which bring 1t to an end must
embody terms which will create q
peace that Is worth guaranteeing and
preserving, a peace that will win the
approval of mankind; not merely q
peace that will serve the several inter.
ests and immediate aims of the nations
engaged.
I'VE shall have no voice In determin-
ing what those terms shall be, but we
shall, ] feel sure. have q voice In de-
termining whether they shall be made
lasting or not by the guarantees OF a
universal covenant and our judgment
upon what Is fundamental and essen
tial as condition precedent to per
manency should be spoken now, not
afterward when 1t may be too late.
mo covenant Of cooperative peace
that does not include the peoples Of
the new world can suffice to keep the
future safe against war, and yet there
is only one sort Of peace that the peo-
pies Of America could join in guaran-
teeing.
The elements Of that peace must be
elements that engage the confidence
and satisfy the principles Of the Amer
lean governments, elements consistent
with their political faith and the prac-
teal convictions which the peoples Of
America have once for all embraced
and undertaken to defend.
Sea Paths Must BE Free.
"And the paths Of the sea must alike,
in law and in fact, be free. The free
dom Of the seas Is the sine qua non
of peace, equality and cooperation. No
doubt a somewhat radical reconsidera-
ton Of many of the rules of interna-
,tional practice hitherto sought to be es-
tablished may be necessary in order to
make the seas indeed free and COM
mon In practically oil circumstances
for the use Of mankind, but the mo-
tive for such changes is convincing
and compelling. There can be no trust
or intimacy between the peoples of the
world without them. Tie free, con-,
slant, unthreatened intercourse of ma
lions Is an essential part Of the proc
ess Of peace and Of development. 1t
need not be difficult to define or to se-
cure the freedom of the seas, II the
governments Of the world sincerely de-
sire to come to an agreement concern
ing It.
1T is a problem closely connected
with the limitation of naval arma-
ments and the cooperation Of the ma
vies Of the world in keeping the seas
at once free and safe. And the ques-
ton Of limiting naval ornaments opens
the wider and perhaps more difficult
question Of the limitation Of armies
and of all progress Of military prepara-
ton. ~ tBIsvs asp 5ysE
Questions Must BE Faced.
"Dinicult and delicate as these Ques-
lions are. they must be faced with the
utmost candor and decided In spirit
Of real accommodation II peace is to
come with healing in its wings and
come to stag. Peace; eannots be had
swtthoat concession and sacrifice.
There can be no sense of safety and
equality among the nations If great
preponderating ornaments are hence
forth to continue here and there to be
built up and maintained. The states
men Of the world must plan for peace
and nations must adjust and accommo-
date their policy to 1t as they have
planned for war and made ready for
pitiless contest and rivalry. The Ques-
lion of ornaments, whether on land or
sea, is the most Immediately and in
tensely practical question connected
with the future fortunes Of nations and
Of mankind.
Speaks Without Reserve.
~ have spoken upon these great mat
tiers without reserve and with the ut
most expllcitness because 1t has
seemed to me to be necessary II the
worlds yearning desire for peace was
anywhere to ind free voice and utter
ance. Perhaps I am the only person
in high authority among all the pe0-
ples OF the world who Is at liberty to
sneak and hold nothing back. am
Speaking as an Individual, and yet !
am speaking also, Of course, as the re-
sponsible head Of great government,
and I feel confident that have said
what the people Of the United States
would wish me to say. May j not add
that hope and believe that I am in
effect speaking for liberals and friends
az humanity In every nation and Of
every program Of liberty7 I would
fain believe that am speaking for
the silent mass Of mankind every
where, who have as vet had no place or
opportunity to speak their real hearts
out concerning the death and ruin they
see to have come already upon the
persons and the homes they hold most
dear"
RUSSIA GIVES HER NATIONAL AP.
PROVAL TO WILSON'S PLAN.
The first official expression or Rus
sia's attitude toward the address of
President Wilson to the Senate was
made to the Associated Press last
Friday in the form of the following
statement from the foreign office:
Russia always has been in full
sympathy with the broad humanitar-
ian principles expressed by the presi-