The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-04
WILSON TELLS

CONTINUED from Page One.l
end, at least shut out from the friendly
intercourse of the nations; and, sec
oud. that when this thing and its
mower are indeed defeated and the
time comes that we can discuss peace
when the German people have
spokesnien whose word we can believe
and when those spokesman are READY
in the name of their people to accept
the common Judgment of the nations
as to what shall henceforth be the
bases of law and of covenant Tor the
life of the world-we shall be willing
and glad to pay the full price Tor
peace and pay it ungrudgtngly. We
know what that price Will be. IL VIII
be full impartial justice-justice done
at every point and to every nation the
final settlement must affect, our enc
mics as well as our friends
Hear Voice of Humanity.
You catch with me the voices of
humanity that are in the air. They
grow daily more audible, more ar
ticulate, more persuasive and they
come from the hearts of men every
where. They insist that the 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 single coun-
try have themselves done deep and
abominable wrong. 1t is this thought
Ia no annexations, no contributions,
no punitive indemnities.' Just because
this crusade formula expresses the in
stinctive judgment as to right of plain
men everywhere it has been made
diligent use of by the masters of Ger
man intrigue to lead the people of
Russia astray-and the peoples of
every other country their agents could
reach in order that a premature peace
might be brought about before au-
4
convincing lesson and the peoples of
the world put in control of their own
destinies.
But the fact that a wrong use has
been made of just idea is no reason
why a right use should not be made OF
it. 1t ought to be brought under the
patronage of it's real friends. Let ii
be said again that autocracy must
first be shown the utter futility of its
claims to power or leadership in the
modern world. 1t is imp oSSibie to ap-
ply any standard of justice so long as
such forces are unchecked and unde-
feated as the present masters of Ger
many command. Not until that has
been done can right be set up as
arbiter and peaeemaker among the
Stations. But when that has been done
Las God willing it assuredly will be
we shall at last be free to do an
unprecedented thing and this is the
time to avow our purpose to do it. We
shall be free to base peace on gener-
oSity and justice, to the exclusion OF
all selfish claims to advantage even
on the part of the victors.
No Peace Until War Is Won.
Let there be no misunderstanding
Our present and immediate part is tC
win the war an nothing shall turn us
aside from il until it is accomplished
Every power and resource we possess
whether of men, of money, or of ma
terials, is being devoted and will con
tinue to be devoted to that purpose
until it is achieved. Those .wllo de
sire to bring peace about before tha
purpose is achieved, 1 counsel to carry
their advice elsewhere. We will no
entertain it, We shall regard the wal
as won only when the German people
say to US, thru properly accredited
representatives, that they are ready
to agree to a settlement, based upoI
justice and the reparation of tn,
wrongs their rulers have done. They
have done a wrong to Belgium, which
must be repaired. They have estab
nshed a power over other lands ant
peoples than their own, over the grea
empire of AUSTRIA Hungary, owe
hitherto free Balkan states, over Tur
Key and within Asia-which must b,
relinquished. Germany's success b,
skill, by industry, by knowledge, b,
enterprise, we do not judge or op
pose, but admire rather. She ha,
built up for herself a real empire O
trade and influence, secured by tn
peace of the world. We were conten
70 abide the riValries of manufacture
science and commerce that were in
Volved for US in her success and STAN