Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-06-20

issue of arms.
Vast Empire Planned.
Their plan was to throw a broad belt
of German military power and political
control across the very center of Eu-
rope and beyond the Mediterranean in
to the heart of Asia ; and Austria Hun
gary was TO be as much their tool and
pawn as Serbia or Bulgaria or Turkey
or the pOnderous states of the East.
The dream had its heart at Berlin. 1t
could have had a heart nowhere else
Ii rejected the idea of solidarity Of
race entirely. The choice of peoples
played no part in IL at all. They ar
IDENTITY desired to direct their own af-
fairs. would be satisfied only by undis-
puted independence They could he
kept quiet only by the presence or the
constant threat of armed men. The
German military statesmen had reck-
oned with all that and were ready TO
deal with II in their own way.
And they have actually carried the
greater part of that amazing plan into
execution Look how things stand.
Austria is at their mercy. II has acted,
not upon its own initiative or upon the
choice of its own people, hut at Ber-
Inns dlCtation ever since the war be-
gan. Its people now desire peace. but
cannot have Il until leave is granted
from Berlin. The so-called central
powers are in fact hut a single power.
Serbia Is nj It's mercy, should its hands
be but for moment freed. From
Hamburg to the Persian gulf the net
is spread.
Why Berlin Seeks Peace.
Is II not easy TO understand the Gag
erneSS for peace that has been mani
tested from Berlin ever since the snare
was set and sprung? Peace, peace.
peace has been the talk of her foreign
Office for now year and more; not
peace upon her own Initiative. hut up
on the initiative of the nations over
which she now deems herself to hold
The advantage Through all sorts of
channels 1t has come TO me. and I'm all
sorts of guises but never with the
terms disclosed which the German gov
ernment would he willing tn accept.
That government still holds a valuable
part of France, though with slowly re-
taxing grasp. aud practically the whole
of Belgium. II cannot 20 further II
dare not go back II wishes to- close
its bargain before II is too late and 1t
has little left to offer for the pound Of
flesh il will demand.
The military masters under whom
Germany is bleeding see very clearly
10 what point Fate has brought them.
II they fall back or are forced back
an inch. their power both abroad and
ut home will fall 10 pieces like a
house OF cards. If they can Sc
cure peace now with the immense ad-
vantages still in their hands which
they have up to this point apparently
I:.incd. they will have justified them
/ selves before the German people they
/ viii have gained ny force what they
/ promised 20 gain by It: an immense
/ expansion Of German power. an Inn
mense enlargement Of German indus
/ trial and commercial opportunities. II
/ they fail, their people will thrust them
aside: government accountable 60
! the people themselves win he set up
/ IN Germany as Il has been In England,
/ in the United States. In France, and
| in all the great countries of the mod
ern time except Germany. II they sue
/ reed they are safe and Germany and
/ the world are undone If they fail Ger
many is saved and the world will be at
{ peace. II they succeed, we and ell
/ the rest OF the world must remain
/ armed. as they will remain, and must
/ make ready for the next step OF ag-
gression: II they fail. the world may
/ unite for peace. and Germany may be
4 OF the union.
Seek to Deceive World.
The present particular aim Of the
4 masters of Germany Is to deceive all
/ those who throughout the world stand
/ for the rights Of peoples and the self
/ government Of nations; for they see
what immense strength the forces of
/ Justice and Of liberalism are gathering
/ out Of this war.
The sinister intrigue IS being no less
actively conducted IN this country than
! In Russla and in every country in Eu-
rope to which the agents and dupes of
the imperial German government can
/ get access.
United States In War for Freedom.
The great fact that stands out above
all the rest is that this is a People,
war. a war for freedom and Justice and
/ Spif-gnvarnmcnt amongst all the ma
! ficns OF the world. a war to make the
/ work. safe for the peoples who live In
/ II and have made 1t their own, the
/ Germau people themselves included ;
aud TINT with MS rests the choice 20
/ break through all these hypocrsies and
/ patent cheats and masks of brute force
/ aud help set the world free. or else
| stand aside and let II be dominated 81
long rye through by sheer weight OF
arms snu ;he arbitrary choices Of self
! constituted masters. by the nation
which can maintain the biggest armies
and the most irresistible arnaments--
y rover to which the world has af-
forded no parallel and IN the face Of
/ which political freedom must wither
and perish.
I For rs there Is but one choice. We
/ nave made it. Woe he TO the man or
group Of men that seeks To stand in
I onr way in this day Of high resolution
/ Is hen every principle We bold dearest
Is 10 be indicated and made secure for
| The salvation Of the nations. We are
ready 10 plend at the bar Of history,
! and our flag shall wear a new luster.