The Ordway new era., 1917-12-07

from the hearts Of men everywhere
They insist that the war shall not end
in vindictive action of any kind: tina
no nation or people shall be robbed OF
punished because the irresponsible
rulers of single country have them
selves done deep and abominapi'
wrong. 1t is this thought that has
been expressed in the formula, NC
anneNations, no contributions, no punl
tive indemnities.'
Just because this crude formula eN-
presses the instructive Judgment as 10
right OF plain men everywhere II mas
been made diligent use of by the mas
ters of German intrigue to lead the
people of Russia astray-and the peo-
pie of every other country their
agents could reach-in order that u
premature peace might be brought
about before autocracy has been
taught its final and convincing lesson
and the people of the world put IN
control of their own destinies.
But the fact that wrong use has
been made of just idea is no reason
why right use should not be made
of it. 1t ought TO be brought under
the patronage of its real friends.
Let it be said again that the autoc-
raCy must first be shown the utter
/ futiliiy of its claims to power or lead
| ership in the modern world. 1t is im-
/ possible TO apply any standard OF
| justice so long as such forces are un-
| checked and uudefeated as the pres
/ ent masters of Germany command
Not until that has been done can
right be set up as arbiter and peace
maker among the nations.
But when that has been dOne-as
God willing it assuT sdly will bc-we
shall at last be free to do an unprece-
dented thing cnd this is the time TO
avow our purposes II do ii. We shall
be free to base peace on generosity
and justice, to the exclusion OF all
selfish claims to advantage even on
the part OF the victors.
Let there be n. misunderstanding.
Our present and immediate task IS TO
win the war and nothing shall turn
us aside from il until 1t Is accom-
plished. Every power and resource We
possess, whether OF men, of money or
of materials, is being devoted and
will continue TO be devoted to that
purpose until 1t is achieved. Those
who desire to bling peace about be-
fore that is achieved, | counsel to car
ry their advice elsewhere. We Will
not entertain ii. We shall regard the
war as won only when the German
people say to US, through properly ac-
credited representatives, that they
are ready TO agree to a settlement
based upon justice and the reparation
of the wrongs tLeir rulers have done
They have done a wrong to Belgium
which must be repaired. They have
established power over other lands
ana peoples than their own-over the
great empire OF Austria Hungary, over
hitherto free Balkan states, over Tur-
key and within Asia-which must be
reiinquished.
Germany's success by skill, by indus
try, by knowledge, by enterprise, we
did not grudge or oppose, but admired
rather. She had built up for herself
real empire OF trade and influence, Sc
cured by the peace OF the world. We
were content TO abide the rIyalries OF
manufacture, science and commerce
that were involved for US in her sue
cess and stand or fall as we had or did
not have the brains and the initiative
to surpaSS her.
But at the moment when she had
conspicuously won her triumphs OF
peace she threw them away to estab-
ilou III llltil sltdu W ldJ the "OTIu VII!
no longer permit to be established,
military and political domination by
arms, by which to oust where she
could not excel the rivals she most
feared and hated
The peace we make must remedy
that wrong. 1t must deliver the once
fair lands and happy peoples OF Bel
gium and northern France from the
TDr-trE md Ha
menace and it must also deliver the
peoples of Austria Hungary. the peo-
pies OF the Balkans and the peoples
OF Turkey. alike in Europe and in Asia,
from the impudent and alien domina-
ton of the Prussian military and com
mercial autocracy.
We owe it. however. to ourselves to
say We do not wish in any way 10 i'm
pair or to rearrange the AustroHun-
gary empire. 1t is no affair OF ours
what they do with their own life,
either industrially or politically. We
do not purpose or desire 10 dictate to
them in any way We only desire TO
see that their affairs are left in their
own hands, in all matters. great or
small We snaII hope to secure for
the peoples Of the Balkan peninsula
and for the people OF the Turkish en-
pire the right and opportunity to make
their own lives safe. their own for.
tunes secure against oppression or in
Justice and from the dictation of for
eign courts or parties
No Wrong Against German Empire.
And our attitude and purpose with
regard to Germany herself are OF a
Ike kind We intend no wrong
against the German euuf-e no intar
ference with her internal affairs. We
should deem either the one or the 9TH
er absolutely uniustifia BILE, absolutely
contrary to the principles we have
Z professed to live by and to hold most
1 sacred through our life as a nation.
The people of Germany are being