The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-12-06
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1917.
The Plea for Justice.

Congress on Tuesday stands out as the
greatest of his state papers. 1t may
lack some of the scholarly qttainments
of some messages that he has sent to
Congress, but it is message with
punch. 1t touches in courteous
language a feeling that is echoed in
hearts all over America In one voice
the President declares war and in the
same voice he demands justice. Ole says
that we should relieve embarrassing sit
nations by declaring a state of war
with Austria. There can no longer be
even lingering suggestion that Aus
tria is at war with the United States.
1t is only fair that the situation
should be stated clearly and stated
clearly officially.
Prussianized Austria ,olds no brief
for the United States as a friend.
The United States must fight Austria
SO long as it is Prussianized.
President Wilson has drawn clearly
in his message the difference Of the
duties this nation owes to a Prus-
sianized Austria and to the Austria
which formerly claimed cur friendship.
He demands the sword Of war for that
Austria and for the other Austria he
pleads for the protection of peace.
The doctrine of Glove Your Enemies. -
He demands that the Austria, Turkey
and Bulgaria which we have known as
our friend shall have the same consid-
Grafton as Belgium and Northern
France. That these patient people
shall be freed from the yo,.e of Prus-
sianism and be permitted to work out
their own destiny the same as those
countries which have stood shoulder to
shoulder with us in the battle for a
world peace which will come with
the recognition of the right of the
people to rule.
There is no cringe of the pacifst in
the message of the President 1T is
the new call to holy war. 1t is the
call to war that must continue until
peace shall come--not with defeat and
compromise-bu with peace of victory
which shall recognize all the war aims
of this nation and its allies.
Throughout the entire message Presi-
dent Wilson talks war and not peace.
There has been no change in his atti-
tude on account of changes which may
have come in the battle line. He still
stands firmly for the ultimate victory
for a world ''safe for democracy.
He demands that America fix clearly
the standing the. 4" Hun within" He
demands for more drastic laws for the
punishment of alien enemies and those
worse than alien enemies will meet
with the sanction of every patriot.
His language places these men prop
erly in the class of terminals " and
he demands that fancied courtesy
be forgotten in the union of the states
for the one great purpose--winning
the war.
The keynote of the MESSAGE is one of
earnest thoughtful consideration of hui
manity regardless of nation. 1t is the
plea for justice to all that makes the
message one which will ring round the
world and bring encouragement to our
allies and bring hope to the men
and women of the enemy nations
who have become tired of bearing the
burden Of autocracy.
If there is one portion of the mes
sage which stands out above another
it is this plea for justice to all the
nations. He says:
Justice and equality 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 fearlessly.
"But the fact that a wrong use has
been made of just idea is no reason
why a right use should not be made
OF 1T. 1t ought to be brought under
the patronage of its real friends. Let
it be said again that autocraey must
frst be shown the utter futility of it's
claims to power of leadership in the
modern world. 1t is impossible to APP
ply any standard of justice so long as
such forces are unchecked and unde-
feated as the present masters OF Ger
many command. Not until that has
been done can right be set up as ar
bitter and peacemaker among the ma
tions. But when that has been done
as, God willing it assuredly will be
we shall at last be free to do an un-
precedented thing, and this is the time
to avow our purpose to do it. We
shall be free to base peace on gener-
osity and justice, to the exclusion of
all selfish claims to advantage ever on
the part of the victors.''
The Milwaukee Sentinel is consent.