Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-28
ISSUE MADE PLAIN.

Discussion of Pope Benedict's pro-
posal for world peace has been good
for the warning nations and for the
various influences that are to be found
in each of them. Although it was a
certainty before single governmen mt
spoke that none of the enemies of Ger
many would consent to the terms
favored by the pontiff, the discussion
of those terms has served to clear the
air considerably in America and prob
ably the same is true Of other coun-
tries.
This discussion has had much to do
with emphasizing the one big fact
about the war and it's aims which. at
this time, is the only fact America and
Americans need keep before them. IT
is this: Germany's government ana
Germany's position in the war are
based on autocracy AMI absolutism, on
crime and rapine, on faithlessness and
reputation of solemn pledges, on dis
regard of law and right, on substitu-
ton of might for justice. and there
fore Germany's government cannot be
trusted as party to any peace move,
The pope's plan of peace is funda-
mentally weak in that it pre-supposes
a peace by treaty with the kaiser join
ing ALI the other governments in
mutual promises Of disarmament. This
would give him an advantage over all
the world because 1t would bind othe:
governments without binding him.
Other governments have lived up to
treaties while he has ignored them.
Other governments have been bound
by the agreements made at the peace
conferences at The Hague while he
has over-ridden them. Other govern
ments are entitled to respect which he
has forfeited.
He is the German government. He
has made that his watchword since he
assembled the throne. and the German
nation has accepted the dictum as if 1t
came from the Most High, which. in
deed. is a part of the kaiser's creed.
Therefore. while he reigns or while
the house of Hohenzollern continues
to direct in any smallest degree the
destinies of Germany. the world can
have no assurance that Germany will
keep any promise, however solemn.
And no agreement as among nations
can be made with the present German
government party to that agreement.
This state of affairs must be recos.
nized and this outlaw among govern
ments must be crushed beyond hope OF
resuscitation before peace can be con.
sidered and before the terms of that
peace can be decided.
Failure to recognize this is failure to
realize the basic facts which made
Americas participation in the war a
necessity. This blind failure is the
keystone of the pacifist's position. He
would have the nation pause at the
threshold of battle against lawless-
ness. barbarism, rapine. greed and
every form Of injustice. to treat for a
peace by agreement with the man who
is waging that war and who. in waging
it, has served notice on all the world
that no agreement he ever made or
ever could make, could merit trust.
1t is impossible to consider peace
until the kaiser and that for which he
stands shall be crushed. When that Is
accomplished and new government
is set up for Germany, it will be pos
sible to admit its representatives to a
peace conference with the hope that
they will not repudiatel their agree
ments., The only certainty that could
exist should the kaiser be permitted to
sign a peace treaty is the certainty
that he would repudiate 1t at the first
advantageous opportunity.