Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-25

lu9SB 0uOTCS III a OQlTII VI IEuc AAuPeA
TALLY to alleviate as far as possible
the sufferings of the war and t.
hasten the end Of hostilities. Tht
kaiser sees in the latest step Of hi
holiness, fresh PROOF Of his noble ant
humane feelings, and chcrishes {
lively desire that for the beneft o.
1.-The entire world the papal appeal may
meet with success.
CALLS KAISER PEAcEA6LE.
"The effort of Pope Benedict is tt
pave the way to an understanding
amongst all peoples and might more
surely reckon on sympathetic recep
ton and the whole-hearted support
from his majesty, seeing that the
kaiser, since taking over the govern
ment has regarded it as his principal
and most sacred task to preserve the
blessings of peace for the German
people and the world.
I'm his first speech from the throne
at the opening of the German reich
stag on June 25, 1888, the kaiser prom
Used that his love Of the German army
and his position toward it should new
er lead him into temptation to cut
short the benefits Of peace unless war
were a necessity, forced on us by an
attack on the empire or its allies.
The German army should safeguard
peace for us, and should peace never
theless be broken, 1t would be in a
position to win 1t with honor. The
kaiser has, by his acts, fulfilled the
promise he then made in twenty.six
years of happy rule, despite provoca.
lions and temptations.
"FIRsT TO PROPOSE PEACE"
I'm the crisis which led to the pres
emit world conflagration. his majesty's
efforts were up. to, the last moment d.
rected towards settling the conflict by
peaceful means. After the war had
broken out, against his WISH and de-
sire, the kaiser In conjunction with
his high allies was the first solemnly
to declare his readiness to enter into
peace negotiations. The German peo-
desire for peace.
Germany sought within her nation
al frontier the free development of
her spiritual and material possessions
and outside the imperial territory I'm.
hindered competition with nations en-
joying equal rights and equal esteem.
The free play of forces in the world
in peaceable wrestling with one an
other would lead to the highest per-
fecting of the noblest human posses
sions. Disastrous concentration OF
events in the year 1914 absolutely
broke off all hopeful course Of deyel-
opment and transformed Europe into
a bloody battle arena.
"cHAMPIoN OF RIGHT"
Approaching the importance Of his
holiness declaration, the imperial
government has not failed to submit
the suggestion contained therein to
earnest and scrupulous examination.
Special measures which the govern.
ment has taken In closest contact with
of the German people
for discussing and answering the
questions raised prove how earnest Its
desires, in accordance with his holi.
ness desires and the peace resolution
of the reichstag on July 10. to find a
practical basis for just and lasting
peace.
1.-THE imperial government ereets
with special sympathy the leading
idea of the appeal wherein his holi.
ness clearly expresses the conviction
that in the future the material power
Of arms must be superseded by the
moral power Of right. We are also
convinced that the sick body of human
society can be healed only by fortify.
Ing its moral strength of right. From
this would follow, according to his
holiness view, the simultaneous dim
mutton Of the armed forces Of all
states and the institution OF obligatory
for international disputes.
WOULD LIMIT ARMAMENT.
Eve share his holiness view that
definite rules and certain safeguard
for Simultaneous and reciprocal
limitation of ornaments on land OR
sea and in the air as well as for the
true freedom of the community and
high seas, are, the things. in treating
which the new spirit in the future
should prevail in international rela-
tons and should find first hopeful ex.
preston. The task would then of it
self arise to decide international diff
ierences Of opinion not by the use of
armed forces but by peaceful methods
by arbitration whose high
peace producing effect we together
with his holiness fully recognize.
THE imperial government will In
his respect support every proposal
with the vital interest Of
he German empire and people.
WISHES WORLD PEACE.
Germany, owing to her geographic.
II situation and economic require. |
nents has to rely on peaceful inter.
course with her neighbors and with
Instant countries. No people there.
ore has more reason than the Ger.
nan people to wish that instead of
universal hatred and battle, a con- !,
,iliatory fraternal spirit should pre-.
vail between nations.
III the nations are guided by this
spirit, it will be recognized to their
advantage that the important thing is :
o lay more stress upon what unites |;
hem in their relations. They will
llso succeed in settling individual
POINTS OF conflict which are still unde-
ided in such way that conditions of
existence will be created which will be
to every nation and
hereby repetition OF this great