Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-08-07
NO PEACE UNTIL
THE PEOPLE RULE

For all the rest of the world cared,
the Germans might have slept In their
Procrustes bed to all eternity. says
the New York Times. II was n hard
and cruel bed. At the appeal and
command OF their imperial master,
they were stretched to fit it, with a
dreadful racking OF bones and rending
OF sinews, Is in the present war. II
they have insolently sought greater
freedom OF movement, they have been
Topped of to it the strict limits of
their couch. They could have had
more comfortable lying years ago II
they had had the spirit and courage of
free men. But they have consented
TO their restraint, they have become a
part of the thing that oppressed them.
and the world has left them to their
slavery and their suffering.
But wien the German emperor sum.
moned his hosts and fell upon the
other nations, resolved that all the
peoples OF earth should lie in his iron
bed, the world rose in arms against
him. II has been the most terrible
and destructive war in history, for ii
is carried on to destroy a mighty ira
ditIon that has outlived its time. The
world is too big to bring forth so
momentous a change without pain and
travail. But after three years of this
incomparably bloody strife. there can
be no peace until the change has been
fully wrought, the world made forever
secure against the perils OF Prussian
imperial sway and the Prussian imper.
ial idea. Peace, wherever the terms
are drawn up and agreed to, will rid
| the world of this menace; only as an
incident will II set the German people
| free.
They can determine the time them
selves, or II will be determined for
them. II is no longer n mere extraya-
CANT dream OF sentimentalists that the
peace treaty may be signed in Berlin.
Months ago the great commanders of
|
not say, that a military conquest OF
Germany was out of the question. That
is no longer true. II may be long and
terribly costly struggle, but II Is no
longer impossible, II comes every day
further within the range of military
achievement. An army of abundantly
| fn1 uf IN
supported by people whose spirit Is
sustained by the high confidence OF
victory. Is one thing-that was the
German position up to year ago. An
army III supplied, not well fed. main
tanning It's material equipment only
by innumerable artifices and substi
tutes, whose morale has been broker
) by repeated defeats. confronted b!
superior forces that altogether forbid
it's adv. nee, and, moreover, having be
; hind IL people who can no longer be
successfully lied to, a people who are
finding out the fearful truth, whose
spirit IL breaking under the torture oI
hunger and restitution insomuch that
II ia plaguing It's rulers with unwonted
hardihood Of complaints, protests, and
demands-that Is n very different
army, and that is the present condi
tlon OF Germany.
"They shall not pass" said The
French at Yorduh. I'VE will pass be
cause we must, and there shall be M
: peace until we have passed." say tn,
! allies on every front. The Russian!
have passed. in pursuit. of the ileeint
and disordered Austrars. For tim,
yet the British md French canno
hope to pass through Hindonburg'!
! lines. But they are not the old lines
through those the allies did pass. The!
are hammering at new and weakened
Z lines ,and time is not their only re
! enforcement. The Germans can maxi
themselves no stronger. they mus
Z grow weaker. But the United State
is putting into the field million men
to be followed by other millions
need be. Our resources are pledged
. every dollar, all our strength. Incrc
4 dulous Germany laughed at the prom
3 ise she ls appalled, by the fulflllment
The political confusion in Berlin |
but the reflection OF the terror tha
3 Is beginning to possess the Germa
{ mind from Potsdam to all the corner