The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-12-06
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Our Guiding Principles

Here in substance is President Wilson's state
ment of the principles upon which the United
States is waging the war. 1t behooves us to study
them carefully to confirm us in our loyalty, to
clarity misconceptions we may entertain, and to
give us broader vision our duty. We suggest
that you give careful study to the excerpts from
the Presidents message.
"Our present and immediate task is to win the
war and nothing shall turn us aside from it until
it is accomplished"
'Those who desire to bring peace about before
that purpose is achieved, counsel to carry their
advice elsewhere We will not entertain it."
German power, consisting of combined intri-
que and force" must be crushed, and, if it be not
utterly brought to an end, at least shut out from
the friendly intercourse of nations"
When the present rulers of Germany shall
have been supplanted by trustworthy spokesman
of the German people, ready to subscribe to pro-
visions to protect the world from the recurrence
of war, 1--WE shall be willing to pay the full price
for peace" that price being justice done at every
point and to every nation that the final settle
ment must affect, our enemies as well as our
friends"
eve shall regard the war as only when
the German people say to us, through properly &C.
credited representatives, that they ready to
agree on settlement based upon justic and the
reparation of wrongs their rulers have DONE
They have done wrong to Belgium which must
be repaired
Furthermore, Germany must not only render
back Belgium and northern France, but relln-
quish power over Austria-Hungaray, the Balkan
states, Turkey and Asia Minor.
It is not intended 'to impair or rearrange the
Austro-Hungaran empire" but it is desired to
restore to Austro-Hungarians independent con-
troll of their own affairs.
For the Balkan states and Turkey, it is de-
sired to procure security from foreign oppression
or injustice.
The "very deep wrongs committed In this war
will have to be righted" but not ''by the commits
sion of similar wrongs against Germany and her
allies and the settlement of the struggle will
perforce be devoid of the iniquities perpetrated
by the congress of Vienna, century ago.
Considerations of humanity forbid "vindictive
action of any kind in the war settlement.
The central powers shall not be robbed or
punished because the irresponsible rulers of a
single country have themselves done deep and
abonninable wrong
The "crude formula of mo annexations, no
contributions no punitive ndemnities" expresses
what justice and humanity dictate despite it's
mischievous misuse by German agents to lead
the people of Russia astray."
"Autocracy must first be shown the utter flu |
tility of its claims to power or leadership in the
modern world" whereupon it will be possible for
the victors unselfishly ito base peace generos-
ity and justice" and unprecedented act
Nations are entitled mot only to free path
ways upon the sea but also to assured and unmo-
Tested access to those pathways" and this applies
not only to weak but to strong nations, friends
and enemies, Austria as we'll as Serbia and Po-
land.
In mentioning Austria in this connection the