Gilpin observer., 1917-11-08

smonE the really free and self-gov-
erned peoples of the world such q con-
cert of purpose and of action ~ will
hencefOrth insure the observance of
those principles.
Neutrality IL No longer feasible or
desirable where the peace of the world
In involved and the freedom of Its peO-
pies, and the menace to that peace and
freedom lies in the existence of auto
cratic governments, backed by 0rgnn-
ixed force which IL controlled wholly
by their will, not by the will of their
people. We have seen the last of neu-
trality in such circumstances. We are
at the beginning Of an age In which 1t
will be insisted that the same stand
ards of conduct and of responsibility
for wrong done shall be observed
among nations and their governments
that are observed among the Individual
citizens of civilized states.
We have no quarrel with the German
people. We have no feeling toward
them but one of sympathy and friend
ship. 1t was not upon their impulse
that their government acted in enter
ing the war. 1t was not with their
previous knowledge or approval. 1t
was war determined upon as wars
used to be determined upon in the old
unhappy days. when peoples were no.
where consulted by their rulers and
wars were provoked and waged in the
interest of dynasties or of little groups
of ambitious men who were accustomed
to use their fellow men as pawns and
tools.
Self-Eoverned nations do not MI their
neighbor states with spies or set the
course of intrigue to bring about some
critical posture OF affairs which will
give them an opportunity to strike and
successfully worked out only under
cover and where NO one has the right
to ask questions. Cunningly contrived
plans of deception or aggression, car
ried, 1t may be from generation to Een-
GRAFTON, can be worked out and kept
from the light only within the privacy
of courts or behind the carefully guard
ed condolences Of narrow and privi-
legged class. They are happily impossi-
BILE where public opinion commands and
insists upon full Information concern
ing all the nations affairs.
steadfast concert for peace can
never be maintained except by . part
nership of democratic nations. No nu-
tOcratic government could be trusted
to keep faith within It observe its
covenants. 1t must be league of
honor, a partnership Of opinion. In
triEue would eat it's vitals awayf the
plottinEs of inner circles who could
plan what they would, and render nc-
count to NO one, would be q corruption
seated at Its very heart. Only free peo-
pie can hold their purpose and their
honor steady to . common end, and
prefer the interest of mankind to any
narrow interest of their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added to our hope
for the future peace of the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
last few weeks in Russia? Russia was
known by those who knew her best
to have been always in fact democratic
at heart in all vital habits of her
thought. in all the intimate relation
ships of her people that spoke their
natural instinct, their habitual attitude
toward life. The aut0cracy that CROWN
ed the summit of her political struc-
ture, long II had stood and terrible
as was the reality of its power, was
not in fact Russian In origin, charnc-
ter. or purpose, and now 1t has been
shaken on and the great generous Rus
sian people have been added, In all
their native majesty and might, to the
forces that are fighting for freedom In
the world, for Justice, and for peace.
Here is a mt partner for league or
honor.
One of the thing. that have served
to convince us that the Prussian auto
crncy was not and could never be our
friend In that from the very outset Of
the present war II has nlled our un-
suspecting communities. and even our
Offices of government, with spies and
set criminal intriEues everywhere afOOt
against our national unity of counsel,
peace within and without, our In
dustrfes, and our commerce. Indeed 1t
In now evident that Its spies were here
even before the war began and II IL
unhappily not a mntter of conjecture,
but a fact proven In our courts of JUS
tice, that the intrigues which have
more than once come perilously near to
disturbing the peace and dislOcating
the Industries of the country, have been
carried ON at the instigatiOn. with the
support, and even under the personal
directions Of ofIicial agents of the I'm
perial government accredited to the
government Of the United States.
Even in checking these things and
trying to extirpate them we have
sought to put the most generous inter-
probation possible upon them, because
we knew that their source lay not in
any hostile feelinG or purpose of the
German people toward ms twho were,
NO doubt, As ignorant Of them ms we
ourselves were), but only In the selfish
designs of n government that did what
II pleased and told Its people nothing.
Hut they have played their part In serv-
Ing to convince mt last that that
government entertRins NO real friend
ship for and means to net against
our peace and security mt Its cOnveni-
ence. That II means to stir up enemies
tercepted note to the German minister
mt Mexico City II eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
In such n government, following such
methods, we can never have friend.
and that in the presence of Its organ
| lied power, always lying In walt to
accomplish know not what pur-
pose, there can he NO assured security
for the democratic governments of the
world. We are now about to accept
the gage of battle with the natural foe
to liberty. and shall. II necessary, spend
the whole force of the nation to check
and nullify its pretensions and it's pow
err. We are Glad now that we see the
facts with NO veil of false pretense
| about them, to nght thus for the ulti-
mate peace Of the world and for the
| liberation Of Its peoples, the German
| peoples Included, for the rights Of ma
tiOns, great and small, and the privi-
| Ieue of men everywhere to choose their