Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-09-05

stating why the United States must
continue the war until the world is
freed of Prussianism, signed by Sec
rotary Lansing, and delivered at the
Vatican today, follows:
Washington, d. c. Aug 81, 1911
To His Holiness, Benedictus XIV,
Pope:
In acknowledgment of the commu-
nication of your Holiness to the belli-
gerent peoples, dated Aug. l, 1917,
the president of the United States
requests me to transmit the following
reply:
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terrible
war must be touched by this moving
appeal of his Holiness, the Pope;
must feel the dignity and force Of the
humane and generous motives which
prompted it, and must fervently wish
that we might take the path of peace
he so persuasively points out But it
would be folly to take it if it does not
in fact lead to the goal he proposes
Must Insure Against Renewal of
Great War.
"OUr response must be based upon
the-stern facts and upon nothing else
1t is not a mere cessation of arms he
desires; il is a stable a1d enduring
peace This agony must not be gone
through with again, and it must be
a matter of very sober judgment
what will insure us against it.
His Holiness, in substance, pro-
poses that we return to the status
quo ante bellum, and that then there
be a general conformation, disarma-
ment, and concert of nations based
upon an acceptance of the principle
of arbitration; that by a similar con-
cert freedom Of the seas he establish
ed, and that the territorial claims of
France and Italy, the perplexing prob
lens of the Balkan states, and the
restitution Of Poland be left to such
conciliatory adjustments as may be
possible in the new temper of such
peace, due regard being paid to the
aspirations of the peoples whose polit-
zeal fortunes and affiliations will be
involved.
Tyranny and Brutality Must be
Driven Out.
1T is manifest that 40 art of this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the stat
us quo ante furnishes a firm and sat-
fsfactory basis for it,
1.-The object of this war is to deliver
the free peoples Of the world from the
menace and the actual power Of a
vast military establishment controll-
ed by an irresponsible government
which, having secretly planned to
dominate the world, proceeded to car
ry the plan out without regard eth
er TO the sacred obligations of treaty
or the long established practices and
long cherished principles of inter1a
tional action and honor, which chose
its blow fiercely and suddenly; stop
ped at no barrier either of law or of
mercy; swept whole continent with
n the tide of blood-not the blood Of
soldiers only, but the blood of inno-
cent women and children also, and of
the helpless of the poor-and now
stands baked but not defeated, the
enemy of four-fifths of the world
Militarism is Ruthless Master of
German People.
This power is not the German
people. 1t is the ruthless master of
the German people. 1t is no business
of ours how that great people came
under it's control or submitted with
temporary zest to the domination of
it's purpose, but it is our business to
see to il that the history of the rest
OF the world is no longer left to its
handling.
ITO deal with such power by way
of peace upon the plan proposed by
his Holiness, the Pope, would, so far
as we can see, involve a recuperation
of its strength and a renewal of its
policy; would make it necessary to
create a permanent hostile combina-
ton of nations against the German
people, who are its instruments, and
would result in abandoning the new
born Russia to the intrigue, the mani
fold subtle interference, and the GER
tain counter revolution which would
be attempted by all the malign inhu-
ences to which the German govern
ment has of late accustomed the
word.
America is Making War Without De-
sire for Gain.
"Can peace be based upon resti-
tuition of its power or upon any word
of honor IL could pledge in treaty OF
settlement and accommodation?