The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-08-30
WILSON REJECTS
PEACE PROPOSAL

domination of it's purpose; but it is
our business to see to it that the his
tory OF the rest of the world is no
longer left to it's handling.
Respiration for GERMANY
TO deal with such a power by way
OF peace upon the plan proposed by j
his Holiness the Pope, would, 50 far
as we can see, involve a recuperation
of its strength and a renewal of it's
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 man.
fold subtle interference, and the GER
! tam counter-revolution which would
be attempted by all the malign in
tluences to which the German govern
ment has of late accustomed the
world. Can peace be based upon
restitution Of it's power or upon any
word of honor it could pledge in a
treaty of settlement and aecomoda
ton?
Responsible statesmen must now
everywhere see, if they never saw be-
fore, that no peace can rest securely
upon political or economic restrictions
meant to benefit some nations and
,, cripple or embarrass others, upon vim
dictive action of any sort, or any
kind of revenge or deliberate injury.
!. The American people have suffered
intolerable wrongs at the hands Of the
Imperial German government, blu!
: they desire no reprisal upon the Ger
man people, who have themselves suf
l fered all things in this war, which
e they did not choose. They believe
that peace should rest upon the
: rights Of peoples, not the rights of
governments-the rights of peoples
great or small, weak or powerful
their equal right to freedom and Sc
curity and self-government and to E
S participation upon fair terms in the
economic opportunities of the worle
4, the German people of course in
Guided, if they will accept equalit.
l. and not seek domination.
e Test of Every Plan
l, "The test, therefore, Of every plal
ID of peace is this: 1t is based upon tn
lie faith of all the peoples involved O
merely upon the word Of an ambition
n and intriguing government, on tn
lie one hand, and Of group of fire
g peoples, on the other? This is ties
e, which goes to the root of the matter
le and it is the test which must be ar
III piled.
sh "The purposes of the United State
ca in this war are known to the who'll
it world-to every people to whom tn
OF truth has been permitted to COM
IS. They do not need to be stated again
he We seek no material advantage {
1t any kind. We believe that the il
he tolerable wrongs done in this war b
ng the furious and brutal power Of tt
ne imperial German government ougl
a to be repaired, but not at the expen!
at of the sovereignty of any people
rather virdication of the sovereign
les ty both of those that are weak al
tie of those that are strong. Puniti'
m damages, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of. er
a pires, the establishment of selfish al
&C. exclusive economic leagues, We dee
ca- inexpedient and in the end wor
ee- than futile, no proper basis for.
nd peace of any kind, least of all for ;
ice enduring peace. That must be bas
of upon justice and fairness and t
ion common rights Of mankind.
Dry Can't Trust German Rulers
the eve can not take the word of t
ma present rulers OF Germany as gus
antee of anything that is to endu
= unless explicitly supported by su
his conclusive evidence of the will a
led purpose of the German people the
tus selves as the other peoples Of
It's world would be justified in accept
of Without such guarantees, treaties
,eo- settlement, agreements for disarn
ACE ment, covenants to set up arbitrat
lili in the place Of force, territorial
an justments, re-constitutions Of sn
law nations, if made with the Germ
the government, no man, no nation CO
Ian now depend on. We must await SO
sac new evidence of the purposes of
ong great peoples Of the Central Pow
her God grant it may be given soon
&C in way to restore the confidence
own all peoples everywhere in the II
,low of nations and the possibility O.
t no covenanted peace.
rev; ROBERT LANSING,
the "Secretary of State of the I'm
liers States Of America"
1om-
lelp- Az @NS