The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-24
By William English Walling
of the Vigilantesj.


of the VigilantesI.
We all know where this peace talk
originates. Whether it reaches US via
Russia, Austria, the pope or the So.
cialists, we know it is "made in Ger.
many" But one Of the most important
sources Of pro-German peace agitation
in this country has been neglected.
| have just completed careful study
Of our American pacifist literature. and
note that fully so per cent Of its ideas
reach us via Great Britain It is well
known that British pacifsm Is os the
most unreasoning variety But so little
is its influence in this country under.
stood that when the leading British
paciflst organization recently issued its
peace program, none OF our leading
! newspapers noticed it. This was
double error. For besides its influence
in this country the Union of Democrat
ic Control has the support Of a con.
siderable minority-probably 10 per
cent-Of the British public.
That this famous pacihst pronuncia.
mento should not be ignored will be
understood from the names of those
who concocted it. These include the
pacifist authorities" Norman Angel
and j. A. Hobson, three Liberal VI. P.s
| Macdonald, Snowden and Jowett These
are not the leading men of Great Brit.
ain. But they are prominent enough
so that they are better exposed than
| ignored
The best way to expose the pacifsts
is simply TO turn on the light Every
document they have yet issued exhibits
| in varying proportions dishonesty as
to facts, intellectual insincerity. or NOR.
al cowardice. The newest statement of
the British pacifsts shows all these
amiable pacifist virtues in their most
| fiourishing state.
The manifesto Of these worthy gen.
tlemen begins with the now famous
formula: Peace without annexations
and without indemnities. on the basis
Of the right Of nations to decide their
own destiny"
This is intellectual insincerity. For
the pacifists know that there Is no
question of the right of nations" to
independence, but that Germany. Aus.
tria. and Turkey deny that right to
subject peoples" and "nationaities." :"
Then comes an example of gross moral
cowardice. We cannot doubt that the
pacifists desire independence for sub
ject "nationalties" and peoples" Yet
they calmly propose TO leave these sub
..IF ID.
within the empire of Austria" and "un.
der the suzeranty Of the Sultan" as
the regning potentates Of these coun-
tries may allow after the entente arm.
| les have disbanded No consideration
| whatever is given 10 the desire Of
the subject races in question for indie.
pendence and separation from their
| brutal oppressors. The Armenians,
Syrians, etc. are abandoned 20 a hor.
rible fate. II this is not moral coward.
ice, then moral cowardice has never
existed on this earth
Next we note actual dishonesty. self
| government" under the Sultan and the
kaiser Of Austria and king Of Hungary
lare actually stated as being identical
with the complete autonomy already
proposed by Great Britain in Ireland
Another equally deliberate falsehood is
the claim that President Wilson's Ian
lguage-which this previous document
quotes-supports It's infamous propos
ais. The presidents words in his re-
cent message 10 Russia, were:
No people must be forced under a
sovereignty under which II does not
wish TO live No territory must change
hands except for the purpose Of secur
ing those who inhabit il a fair chance
Of life and liberty"
There Is in these words no Limitation
lof the right Of independence to ma
tions"
On the contrary President Wilson
wrote this passage precisely 90 brand
the infamous crime 90 which thes,
British pacifsts are willing TO becom,
laccomplices. No words could be plain
er. Think then Of the falsehood an,
iunkerlike audacity Of the claim thai
! President Wilson supports the pacifs
formula that limits the right Of indie
pendence 10 nations"
Our Anglo-maniac pacidsts and then
. British models 90 not suggest that al
private crimes and punishmeuts %,
wiped or the statute book. But the,
. make this suggestion as to 400 but ON,
? OF the unspeakable public crimes com
mitted by the German government anD
approved Dos o. majority of the German
- people The one exception they max,