Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-11

yond Government after government
has by their influence, without open
conquest of its territory, been linked
together in net of intrigue directed
against nothing less than the peace
and liberty of the world. The meshes
of that intrigue must be broken, but
can not be broken unless wrongs all
ready done are undone: and adequate
measures must be taken to prevent it
from ever again being rewoven or re-
paired.
"Of course, the imperial German gov
eminent and those whom il is using
for their own undoing are seeking to
obtain pledges that the war will end
in the restoration of the status quo
ante. 1t was the status quo ante
out of which this Ubiquitous war issued
forth, the power of the imperial Ger
man government within the empire
and its widespread domination and in
huence outside of that empire. That
status must be altered in such fashion
as to prevent any such hideous thing
from ever happening again.
Fighting For Liberty.
I'VE are fighting for the liberty, the
self government, and the indicated
development of all peoples. and every
feature OF the settlement that con-
cludes this war must be conceived and
executed for that purpose. Wrongs
must first be righted and then adequate
safeguards must be created to prevent
their being committed again Rene
dies must be found as well as state
ments of principle that will have a
pleasing and sonorous sound. Practi-
cal questions can be settled only by
practical means. Phrases will not
achieve the result. Effective readjust-
ments will; and whatever readjust-
ments are necessary must be made.
But they must follow a principle
and that principle is plain No people
must be forced under sovereignty un-
der which 1t does not wish to live. No
territory must change hands except for
the purpose of securing those who in
habit it fair chance Of life and lib
erty. No indemnities must be insisted
on except those that constitute pay.
ment for manifest wrongs done. No
adjustments Of power must be made
except such as viii tend to secure the
future peace OF the world and the fu.
ture welfare and happiness OF its peo-
pies.
And then the free peoples Of the
world must draw together in some
common covenant, some genuine and
practical cooperation that will in ef-
feet combine their force to secure
peace and Justice In the dealings Of ma
tons with one another. The brother
hood Of mankind must no longer be q
fair but empty phrase: it must be
given structure Of force and reality.
The nations must realize their common
life and effect workable partnership
to secure that life against the agrees
siong Of ai1tocratic and self PLEASING
power.
| For these things we can AFFORD to
IDour out blood and treasure For
these are the things We have always
iprcfessed to desire. and unless We pour
ont blood and treasure now and sue
coed, we may mover be able to unite
or show conquering force again In the
great cause of human liberty. The day
has come to conquer or submit. II the
forces OF autocracy can divide us, they
will overcome us: II we stand together
victory IL certain and the liberty which
victory will secure. We can AFFORD then
I to be generous. nut we can not afford
then or now to be weak or omit any
lsin0le guarantee Of justice and -
cugtty 80.