Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-04

Continued From Page One.)
without conscience or honor or capac-
ity for covenanted peace, must be
crushed and If it be not utterly
brought to an end, at least shut out
from the friendly intercourse of the
nations and. second, that when this
thing and it's power are indeed de-
teated and the time comes that we can
discuss peace-when the German peo-
pie have spokesman whose word we
can believe and when those spokes-
men are ready in the name of their
people to accept the common judg-
ment Of the nations as to what shall
henceforth be the basis OF law and of
covenant for the life Of the world
we shall be willing and glad TO pay
the full price for peace and pay it
ungrudgingly. We know what that
price will be. II viii be full, impair
tial tustice-justice done at every
point and to every nation the final set
Element must affect our enemies as
well as our friends.
Voices OF Humanity in Air.
You catch, with, me. the voices Of
humanity that are in the air. They
grow daily more audible, more articu-
late, more persuasive and they come
from the hearts Of men everywhere.
They insist that war shall not end
IN vindictive action of any kind; that
no nation or people shall be robbed or
punished because the irresponsible
rulers OF a single country have them
selves done deep and abominahle
wrong. II is this thought that has
been expressed in the formula no an
neNations, no contributions, no punt
tive indemnities' Just because this
crude formula expresses the instinc-
tive judgment as to right of plain men
everywhere. it has been made diligent
use Of by the masters of German in
irigue TO lead the people Of Russia
astray-and the people of every other
country their agents could reach, in
order that a premature peace might
he brought about before autocracy has
been taught its final and convincing
lesson and the people Of the world
put In control CT their own destinies.
But the fact that wrong use has
been made of a just idea is no reason
why a right use should not be made
OF it, Let il be said, again, that au
iocracy must first be shown the uttel
tutlity Of its claims to power or lead
ershir In the world. 1t is impossible
10 apply any standard of justice 81
long as such forces are unchecked AMI
indicated as the present masters o
Germany command. Not until tina
has been done can right be set up a.
arbiter and peacemaker among thu
nations But when that has been dom
AS God willing. 1t assuredly will b
we shall at least be free to do al
unprecedented thing, and this is tn
time to aycw our purpose TO do II
She shall be free to base peace Oh
generosity and justice, to the exclu
sion Of all selfish claims to advantag
even on the part of victors.
Present Task to Win War.
let there be no misunderstanding
Our present and immediate task is {
win the war and nothing shall turn u
aside from IL until II is accomplish
ed, Every power and resource W
possess, whether OF man, of money. o
or materials, Is being devoted ana WI
continue to be devoted to that pun
pose until II is achieved. Those VII
desire to bring peace about hefor
that purpose is achieved, ! counsel I
carry their advice elsewhere. We WI
not entertain IT, We shall regard tn
war as won only when the Germa
people say to us through properly az
credited representatives that they al
ready to agree 10 settlement base
upon justice and the reparation OF ID
wrongs their rulers have done. Inc
have done a wrong to Belgium wnic
must be repaired. They have estaf
lished a power over other lands an
peoples than their own--over the gre
empire of Hungary, over nitl
erto free Balkan states. over Iufke
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