Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-25

lBy Geo. sylvester viereck.l

(By Geo. Sylvester Viereck.)
President Wilson'S Declaration Of
Peace is the greatest event since the
Declaration OF War. His address to
the Senate is easily the most impor~
tant speech made by any American
President since Washington Fare
well Address. win the new policy
announced by the President guide us
in the future, as Washington has
guided us in the past? Mr.. Wilson'S s
vision Of a Monroe Doctrine applied
to the entire world is an ideal That
is TO say, it is not Immediately at
tainable. But whatever the inn
mediate effect may be, MI. Wilson
has set a new standard for humanity
to approach lie has established q
new goal. He has ushered in a new
epoch. His winged sentences can
never be made unspoken. The heart
of mankind will never forget them.
They will ie-echo through time.
They will transfgure and transform
the fabric of human thought The
world can never be what it was be-
fore, since the head Of one great
nation has uttered in imperishable
words the secret dream of all. One
thing more Mr. Wilson'S speech has
done. II has informed those British
agents who still hope for the partici-
patton Of the United States on the
side of Great Britain that they are
making their reckoning without
their host. America will lead in
peace She win not follow in war.
This conviction, once It is borne
home to the British Government,
will mean one year less of hell on
earth. II may mean peace before
spring.
Mr.. Wilson's gospel is as simple
as the message Of Jesus, but it took
sublime courage to proclaim 1t to
cynical world bereft Of reason by
strife We who for many months
have seen the growth OF the New
Woodrow Wilson are not surprised
by the evolution Of the Presidents
mind The New Woodrow Wilson is
the real Woodrow Wilson In find
ing himself, he has found the soul of
America. He Is no longer merely
President of the United States. he
incarnates, for the time being, the
highest aspirations Of the American
people. He is not only our spokes-
man, he speaks "for liberals and
friends of humanity in every nation
and for every program Of liberty"
Il would fain believe" he asserts,
that / am speaking for the silent
mass of mankind everywhere who
have as yet had no place or oppor-
tunity to speak their real hearts out
concerning the death and ruin that
seem to have come already upon the
persons and the homes they hold
most dear"
Lincoln cmancipatcd merely the
African negro. Wilson's speech sets
free men and minds In every part OF
the globe It is not an attack on
property. It is an challenge to every
vested interest, to every cobwebbcd
/ tradition Of secret diplomacy, to
every sham OF international law. It
is the splendid bloom of constructive
American statesmanship. Mr.. Will
son is not defying our own tradi-
tions.
In holding out tho expectation
thai the people and the Government
of the United States will join the
other civilized nations OF the world
in guaranteeing the pcrmanence Of
peace upon such terms as ! have
named. / speak with tho greater
boldness and confidence because it
is clear to every man who can think
that there Is in this promise no
breach in either our traditions or our
policy rs nation, but fuliillment
rather of all that we have professcd
OF striven for.
II am proposing, as it were, that
the nations should with one accord
a nf +
Monroe as the doctrine or the world:
That no nation should seek to extend
its policy over any other nation or
people, but thai every people should
be left free to determine its own
policy.fits own way Of development,
unhindered, unthreatened, unafraid,
the little along with the great and
powerful
81 am proposing that all nations
henceforth avoid entangling all
liances which would draw them into
competition cf mower. catch them in
net Of intrigue and selfish rivalry,
and disturb their own affairs with
influences intrudod from without.
There is no entangling alliance in a
concert OF power. When all unite TO
act in the samo sense and with the
! Ndlllt ppl pO9f, all dNi III wv tDihhANh
interest and are free to live their
own lives. under common protec-
tion.
II am proposing government by
the consent OF the governed; that
freedom of the seas which in inter-
national conference after conference
representatives OF the United States
have urged with the eloquence Of
those who are the convinced disciples
Of liberty; and that moderation Of
armaments which makes Of armies
and navies power for order merely,
not an instrument of aggression or
Of selfish violence.
These are American principles,
American policies. We can stand for
no others. And they are also the
principles and policies Of forward
looking men and women everywhere,
OF every modern nation, Of every en-
| lightened community. They are the
principles OF mankind and must pre-
vail"
r,hoco yripciniac orQ Tho nrinpipI 90