The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-23
EDITORIAL COMMENT
 ON WILSON'S MOVE
 IS VERY VARIED

sting of resentment and bitter memory
 "Jn both of these cases Ameri- cans would have replied and did reply, that the war must be fought to finish until the vanquished accepted the vict0r's terms"
 With a series of such instances and with questions ns to how the President would deal with speci- fled hypothetical situations affect ing American interests, the Post leads up to the following conclu- sion:
 Upon first impression the Pres ident's scheme does not fill us with any very sanguine hope. We remain still of the opinion that a permanent peace can only be Ob- tained by the defeat of Germany. We would even say to President Wilson what Lincoln said to Eu- rope at the end of 1881: q am quite sure that a sound argument could be made to show them that they can reach their aim more readily and easily by aiding to crush this rebellion than by giy- ing encouragement to it.
 "In other words, if President
 
 him come in and help us end it. He will then have the opp0rtu- nifty of fighting for liberty and all those other great principles which, as we have always been taught to believe, Americans hold dearer than life itself. But if this en- thusiasm for these principles will not carry him so far. his next best course is to leave 1t to the allies to secure them for the world by the only way they can be se- cured; that Is to say, by victory The Daily News describes Presiden Wilson's address as a discerning ju dicial and statesman-like presentatio of the issues confronting the civil ized world today in the unlimited flu ture beyond the conclusion of tn present war" The newspaper think if should secure a cordial welcome f Great Britain, but says, nevertheless it contains phrases and suggestion which may legitimately be criticized. Tt is open to the purists," says tn Daily News ito seize on the asser tion that the statements from bot groups of belligerents have implie that the coming peace must be a peac without victory. Extracted from tn context that phrase might seem t invite comparison with one or two un fortunately ambiguous passa ges i previous speeches and notes emanat ing from the White House; but ob servation of the sentences immediate ly following makes it clear that Pres ident Wilson in laying down a prin ciple that goes little. if at all. be ycnd the declaration made to him b the allies fortnight ago that the never contemplated the exterminatio or political disappearance of the Ger man people and that the peace the seek is based on liberty justice an fidelity to international engagement. On that declaration President Wilson address is comprehensive and illum mating commentary"
 The Times thinks it is too soon ye to form a considered judgment o President Wilson's speech.
 Its language.' says the Time! has evidently been weighed with S much nicety and Care that prematur comment might overlook or misinter pret the precise shade of meanin which particular passages are intende to bear"
 The Times, nevertheless. receive certain broad impressions that ca hardly be mistaken" It sees in Il, speech a fuller and more forcibly illus tration than President Wilson has pre- viously uttered of "the high and dal ing character of his pacific ideal together with the prudence and cat tion of his policy"