The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-29

Holiness, Benedict xV., Pope:
In acknowledgements OF the
communication of your holiness
to the belIigerent peoples, dated
August 1, 1917, the president OF
the United States requests me
to transmit the following reply:
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this
terrible war must be touched by
this moving appeal Of his hoil-
ness the pope and must feel the
dignity and forces Of the humane
and generous motives which
prompted It and must fervently
wish that we might take the path
of peace he SO persuasively
points out.
BUT II WOULD BE FOLLY
TO TAKE 1T If 1T DOES NOT;
IN FACT, LEAD TO THE GOAL
HE PROPOSES. Our response
must be based upon the stern
facts and upon nothing else. 1t
10 not a mere cessation OF arms
he desires; It is a stable and en-
during peace. This agony must
not be gone through with again
and it must be a matter OF very
sober Judgment which will insure
US against it.
His holiness In substance pro-
poses that we return to the
status quo ante beilun, and that
then there be a general condo
nation, disarmament and con-
cert of nations, based upon ac-
ceptance of the principle OF arbi-
tration, that by similar concert
freedom of the seas be estab-
lIshed, and that the territorial
claims of France and Italy, the
perpIexing problems of the Bal
kan states and the restitution of
Poland be left to such concilia-
tory adjustments as may be pos
sibIe in the new temper OF such
a peace, due regard being paid
to the aspirations Of the peoples
whose political fortunes and
affiliations will be involved.
It is manifest that no part OF
this program can be successfully
carried out unless the restitution
of the status quo ante belium
furnished a firm and satisfactory
basis for it. The object OF this
war is to deliver the free peoples
of the world from the menace
and the actual power OF vast
military establishment controlled
by an irresponsible government,
which, having secretly planned
to dominate the world, proceeded
to carry the plan out without re-
GARD either to the sacred obiiga-
tlons Of treaty or the long-estab-
IIshed practices and long-cher-
lshed principles of international
action and honor; which chose
It's own time for the war, deliv-
cred It's blow herceIy and sud-
IDENTIFY, stopped at no barrier,
either of law or OF mercy; swept
a whole continent within the tide
of bIood-not the blood Of SOL
diers only, but the blood of inno-
cent women and children also,
and of the helpless Poor-and
now stands baked, but not de-
feated, the enemy Of four-fifths
of the world. This power is not
the German people. 1t is the
ruthless master of the German
people. 1t is no business Of ours
how that great people came under
its control or submitted with
Temporary zest to the donlna-
tion of it's purpose; but 1t is our
business to see to it that the his
tory of the rest of the world is
no longer left to Its handling.
To deal with such power by
way Of peace upon the plan pro-
posed by his holiness, the pope,
would, SO far as we can see,
INvoLVE A REGENERATION
OF ITS STRENGTH AND A
RENEWAL OF ITS POLICY;
WOULD MAKE 1T NECESSARY
TO CREATE A PERMANENT
HOSTILE COMBINATION OF
NATIONS AGAINST THE GER.
MAN PEOPLE, WHO ARE ITS
INSTRUMENTS; AND WOULD
RESULr,I IN ABANDONING THE
NEWBORN RUSSIA TO THE
INTRIGUE, THE MANIFOLD
sUBTLE .lNTERFERENcES,
AND THE CERTAIN COUNTER
REVOLUTION WHICH WOULD