Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-27

AnCricdn; out tine American thinks
ii is necessary, in addition to having
q declaration Of convictions and
ideals, to have plan through which
these Ideals can be put into prac-
tical operation.
The Presidents speech has been
compared to the Declaration of In
dependence, but the Declaration of
independence would never have been
considered anything more than a
traitorous document If, after sign
ing it, the leaders Of the American
Revolution had gone home and not
taken any stops to make the Declara-
tion of Independence a reality in the
political existence of this country.
The Presidents utterances are
partly addressed to Europe and part
ly addressed to America.
TO Europe he says that peace
should be made now, without forcing
the war to q victorious finish by
either alliance; that when peace is
made Europe should adopt the Mon
roc Doctrine; should form league
to maintain and enforce permanent
peace; should guarantee each people
an outlet to The seas; should ordain
the freedom of the seas; should
limit naval and military armaments
and should guarantee to each people
the right to live under the govern
ment and institutions of their own
choice
To this countrymen, the President
says that the United States should
join the European concert and league
to enforce permanent peace il the
lrG IA
out victory, guarantee the freedom
Of the seas, adopt the Monroe Doc
trine as a European code and assent
TO the independence and self-goyern-
ment of every people. little or great.
These are tremendously revolu-
tionary proposals. If put in force
they would completely change the
policies by which every civilized
State in the world has guided its do
mestic and its foreign affairs for cen
turtles.
All the contending nations give
evidence Of recognizing, in an alb
stract way, the justice Of the Presi-
dents proposals. and the rightfulness
of his ideals.
But all of them. also. give moro
evidence of intending to continue the
war on their own lines of mutual de-
struction.
1t is clear that the President de-
sircs peace, means to persuade the
nations TO mako peace, and has un-
doubtedly, by his dramatic utter
ance, profoundly affected the bell
ligerent peoples and appreciably
turned their minds toward thoughts
of peace.
These achievements are certainly
great Ana for its own part, The
American halls both the purpose of
the President and his persistence in
his purpose with the heartiest APP
plause and the most earnest COM
mcndation.
Far better is any effort to promote
peace. though 1t fail, than no effort
at all.
But If TIE Presidents appeal to
the warning Governments Is not
needed, should America then cease to
mako further efforts to end this
murder of civilization? Or should
this country use its economic and
political power to compel peace, IL
persuasion fails?
Here we must say frankly that We
do not like tho implication, which
runs all through the Presidents pro-
nouncemcnt, that in case either of
the belligerent groups refuses to
make peace without victory" then
the United States will simply stand
by and bring no coercion to bear
upon tho group pcrsisting in war
IL we are not mistaken. the Prcsi-
dent there seems to lay down the
one argument which would be final
to our purpose and which Is always
uncomfortably present in the heads
Of the men who arc prolonging this
war.
SO long as there is an open prob
| ability that the United States may
resolve to head n League Of Neutral
Nations to enforce international law
and neutral freedom on tho seas
without waiting for tho war to end,
and a probability that the United
| States and tho other ncutrals may
stop food and military supplies go
| ing from -neutrals to belligerents.
| just SO long there is powerful
\ threat hanging over the heads of
those bent upon prolonging war, and
a powerful moral influence behind
I the peaceful proposals Of the Gov
! ernment Of The United States. $50.
I Let us raise our voice so loudly,
and exercise our influence so strong
| ly. that Europe will he compelled to
stop for a moment and listen TO the
voice of reason, to the appeal Of
( humanity to consider for a moment
not merely our interests but their
own interests. the interests OF all
! civilization, the best interests Of the
| whole human race.
THE opportunity OF this country
to render signal service to the
world and to benefit itself as well as
! other nations IL TO unite with other
neutral nations everywhere and to
withhold all money and all supplies
until peace negotiations are begun.
''The neutral nations OF the world
can compel peace. and the United
! States, first in power, first in civil
! ized Development, first in humanitar-
ian principles should lead the way.
THE United States should refuse
to deliver food, funds or arms to any
country which insanely insists upon
a protractiop Of this bloody and de-
!, basing war"