The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-08-31
PRESIDENT REJECTS
POPE'S peace plans
TERRIFIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE
KAISER, WHOSE PROMISES
CAN NOT BE TRUSTED.

Wilson's remarkable reply to the POpe'B
peace proposal:
" Every heart that has not been bin
ded and hardened by this terrible war
must be touched by rhis moving appeal
Of His Holiness, the Pope. must feel tho
dignity and force o: the human and
generous motives which prompted It.
and most ferventiy wish that we might
take the path Of peace he so persuas-
lively points out. Bot it would be folly
TO take 1t II IL does not in fact lead to
the goal no proposes. Our responses
must be based upon the stern facts and
upon nothing else. It is net mere
cessation o. arms he desires: It 10 q
stable and enduring peace. This agency
must not be gone through with again
and 1t must be matter Of every sober
judgment what win Insure us against
it.
His Holiness in substance proposes
that we return to status quo aEte oel-
lum and that then there be general
conformation, disarmament, and con-
cert of nations, based upon an accept
ance OF the principle of arbitratipn.
that by similar concert freedom Of the
seas be established; and that the ter
ritorial claims Of France and Italy the
perplexing problems of the Balkan
states, and the restitution of Poland be
left to such conciliatory adjustments
as may be possible in the new temper
Of such peace, due regard being paid
to the aspirations of the peoples whose
political fortunes and affiliations will
/ be involved.
ut is manifest that llo part of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the status
quo ante bellum furnishes firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object
of this war is to deliver the free peo-
pies of the world from the menace and
the actual power Of vast military es-
tablishment controlled by an irrespon-
sible government which, having secret
lily planned to dominate the world, pro-
ceeded to carry the plan out without
regard either 10 the sacred obligations
of treaty or the long established plac-
tees and long cherished principles OF
international action and homer; which
chose its own time for the war; de-
| liyered its blow fiercely and suddenly;
stopped at no barrier either of law or
Of mercy; swept a whole continent
within The tide of blooc--not the blood
of soldiers only, but III blood Of in 20
cent women and cht;dren and of the
helpless poor: and now stands balsed
bit not defeated. ths enemy of four
fifshs of the world This power is not
the German people-tt is the ruthless
master Of the German r-ople.
It is no business of ours how that
great people came under its control or
submitted with temporary zest to the
domination Of its purpose: but It is our
A business to sec to it that the history OF
the rest Of the world is no longer left II
its handling.
"To deal with such power by way
of peace upon the plan proposed by His
Holiness, the Pope, would. so far as we
can see, involve recuperation OF its
strength and a renewal of its policy
would make 1t necessary to create a
permanent hostile combination of ma
tions against the German people. who
are its instruments, and would result
in abandoning the newborn Russia TO
the intrigue. the manifold subtle inter
ference and the certain counter revo-
luton which would be attempted by all
the malign influences to which the Ger
man Government has of late acciistom-
ed the world. Can peace be based up
on a restitution Of its power .or upon
any word of honor 1t could pledge in a
treaty OF settlement and accon,moda- ;
ton?
Irresponsible statesmen musr now
everywhere see, If they never saw be-
fore, that no peace can rest securely
upon political or economic restrictions
meant to benefic some nations and
cripple or embarrass otheYs, upon vim
dictive action Of any sort, or any kind
Of revenge or deliberate injury. rhe
American peonle have suffered infol-
erable wrongs at the hands OF the Inn
Iperial German Government. but tfes-
desire no reprisa1 upon the German
} people who have themselves suffered
} all things in this war, which they did
|, not choose. They believe that peace
should rest upon the rights OF peoples.
| not the rights of Governments
rights OF peoples. great or small. weak
or powerful EQUAL right 20
freedom and security and self govern
ment, and TO participation upon fair
terms in the economic Opportunities OF
the world-the German people os
course, included. if they viii acnoiis
Equality and not seek dominat ~ { fey
'grhe test, therefore. OF ever
peace is this; Is II based saws rha
faith OF all the peoples jphns as in
merely upon the word Of an pleasure b,
and intriguing Government regard it a,
4 hand and Of eroup Of fress proficienc,
the other? This is testthe training
to the root Of the mattcr;
test which must be applie.-
I'VE cannot take the x
present rulers Of Germany I'm AGENT
antee Of anything that Is to Ell
less explicitly supported by fuintv tool
j elusive evidence Of the win and The in
Of the German people 'hemselp,t for thai
other PEOPLES OF the world VI Effected
justified n accounting. ~. Sss..tt n 3 ireenrr
guarantees. treaties OF tet
lagreements FOR disarmamdnt4
ants "a set up arbitration irne was u
OF forcn- territorial atliusll
consiiir tniis Qf tn,all natiof
with the Gtfm1n cnpf1rn rne|isie
no nation could now depend %.