The Colorado statesman., 1917-11-10

successfully worked out only under
cover md where one hns the right
to ask questions. Cunningly contrived
plans OF deception or aggression, ear
ricd, IL may he from generation to gem
erRtion, can he worked out and kept
from the light only within the privacy
OF courts or behind the carefully guard
ed condolences of narrow and prlvi-
legged class. They are happily impOSsi-
BILE where public opinion commands and
insists upon full Information concern
Ing all the nations affairs.
steRdfast concert for peace can
never he maintained except by part
nership OF democratic nations. No nu-
tocrntic government could he trusted
TO keep fnith within IL or observe Its
covenants. IL must be league OF
honor, partnership of opinion. In
trigue would eat Its vitals nwnyI the
piottinEs of inner circles who could
plnn what they would, and render nc
count To no one, would be n corruption
seated mt Its very heart. Only free peo-
pie can hold their purpose and their
honor stendy to n common end, and
prefer the Interest of mankind TO any
narrow Interest of their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added to our hope
for the future peace of the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
known by those who knew her best
to have been always in fact democratic
mt heart In all vital habits of her
thought, In all the Intimate relation
ships of her people that spoke their
natural Instinct, their hBbitual attitude
toward life. The autocracy that crown
ed the summit of her political struc-
ture, long ms IL had stood ana terribie
WINS the reality of Its power, was
not In fact Russian I'm origin, chnrac-
haG
shaken or and the grent generous Rus
sinn people have been added, In MI
their native majesty and might, to the
forces that nre fighting for freedom In
the world, for Justice, and for peace.
Here is fit partner for league OF
honor.
One of the things that have served
TO convince us that the Prussinn nuto-
cracy was not and could never be our
friend is that from the very outset OF
the present wnr II has filled our un-
suspectinE communities, and even our
Offices of government, with spies ana
set criminal intrigues everywhere nfoot
against our national unity of counsel.
our peace within and without, our IN
dustries, and our commerce. Indeed IL
IL now evident thnt it's spies were here
even before the war began and II Is
unhappily not matter OF conjecture
but fact proven I'm our courts OF JUS
tIce, that the intrigues which have
more than once come perilously near TO
disturbing the peace and dislochtinE
the Industries of the country, have been
carried on mt the InstiEation, with the
support. and even under the personal
directions of official agents of the I'M
perInl government accredited to the
government of the United States.
Even in checking these things and
trying to eNtirpnte them we have
sought to put the most generous inter-
INT because
we knew that their source lay not In
nny hostile feeling or purpose of the
German people toward us twho were,
doubt, Ignorant of them ms we
ourselves were), but only in the selfish
designs of government that did what
II pleased and told it's people nothing.
But they have played their part In serv-
Ing to convince us mt last that that
government entertnins no real friend
ship for us and means to act against
peace and security at It's convent
ence. That II means to stir mp enemies
against us at very doors, the In
terceptcd note to the German minister
at Mexico C2tysIs eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know thnt
in such government, following such
methods, we can never have friend,
and that In the presence of tts organ
lied power, always lying In wait TO
accomplish we know not what pur-
pose. there can be no assured security
for the democratic governments of the
world. We are now about to accept
the gage of battle with the natural foe
to liberty. and shall, IL necessary. spend
the whole force of the nation to check
and nullify it's pretensions and It's pow
err. We glad now that we see the
facts with veil of false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the ulti-
mate peace of the world and for the
liberation of its peoples, the German
peoples Included, for the rights of ma
lions, grent nnd small, and the privi-
lege of men everywhere to choose their
way of life and of obedience.
The world must be made safe for
democracy. Its pence must be planted
upon the tested foundations of political
liberty. We have no selfish ends to
serve. We desire conquests, no
dominion. We seek no indemnities for
ourselves, no material compensation
for the sncrihces we shall freely make.
We are but one of the champions OF
the rights of mankind. we shall be
satisfied when those rights have been
made as secure as the faith and the
freedom of nations can make them.
Just because we fight without rancor
and without selfish object, seeking
nothing for ourselves but what we shall
wish to share with all free people, we
shall. 1 feel confident. conduct our oper-
ations as belligerents without passion
and ourselves observe with proud pune
tilio the principles of right and of fair
play we profess to be fighting for.
1 have said nothing of the govern
ments allied with the Imperial gov
ernment of Germany because they have
not made war upon us or challenged
us to defend our right and our honor.
The Austro-Hungnrian government has.
Indeed, avOwed it's unqualified indorse-
ment and acceptance of the reckless
and IawIess submarine warfare, adopt
xxlf a Ia lSa Inv 10 mn
iaI German government, and II has
therefore not been possible for this
government to receive Count TarnOw-
ski, the ambassador recently accredited
10 this government by the Imperial and
Royal government of Austria Hungary;
hut that government has not actually
engaged In warfare against citizens of
the InItcd SIntes on the sens. md 1