The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-24

WILSON'S LATEST MOVE FOR PEACE
While pnrporting to be directed chiefly
toward the establishment of permanent
amity of the world at the close of the
present hostilities, the remarkable adj
dress delivered by President Wilson be-
fore the Senate on Monday is, in effect,
new bid for the settlement of the is
sues involved in the present struggle.
There can be little doubt of that No
amount OF generalization about the COM
mon humanity, no illusions to the broth
erhood of man. no hint about the idea OF
limited armament can swerye the mind
from the thought that President Wilson's
first and foremost effort was to keep
alive the discussion of peace between the
present combatants, regardless OF what
might be the developments as to perma
nent peace II must be conceded that
therein President Wilson was actuated
by high motives, not alone with respect
to the interests of the United States but
also as regards the interests Of the world. |
He has set his purpose to be the means, |
if possible, of ending the great conflict
forthwith, or ut least of bringing 1t to a
more prompt conclusion than seemed
possible after the central powers and the |
entente allies had responded to his re-
quest for terms on which peace confer |
ences might be held. President Wilson
apparently considers that to secure peace
il to keep constantly before the belliger-
ents the idea that peace is a desirable
thing and that it can be contaminated,
perhaps, without marked loss of honor
and prestige to either side, So President
Wilson thrusts himself between the bel
ligerents, so to speak.
What the result of his latest efforts
will be is hard to conjecture. One hopes
that the altruistic purpose OF the exeeu
tive might prove the second entering
wedge of peace, but at the same time one
is inclined to doubt the assertion made
Ny MIN ptttNN iAllt9b NpAiN III WAS NfAA /
as between equals, with no victor and no
vanquished, and that only on such ba
sis can permanent peace be attained. II
the present war is to end in draw, with
the two sides maintaining virtually an
even footing, there is no guarantee that
they will not fight again. Human nature
is no different in the mass than it is in
the individual. Let two pugilistic in
dividuals get into conflict and let the
a certain amount of vigor and assurance
let those conditions remain and, if
there is clash of rights, those two in {
dividuals will be likely to come to a v
clinch again. So it is with nations and
with collections of nations-let their 4
great conflict end a draw and let them n
separate as virtually on an equal footing
as regards power, and no influence on g
Earth can serve to keep them at peace. a
1nce their paths cross. Ideally, President u
Wilson's position is good practically, it u
gill scarcely hold. These groups of ma :
ions must settle their differences in
heir own way if there is to be perma a
rent peace, or anything approaching per- e.
nanent peace. II is a brutal viewpoint ',
o have, we admit, but nevertheless based
N Judgment of human nature in the in Ia
Iividual and in the mass. Two years III
nd one-half ago, one never would have !.
reamed, looking at the situation from 81
he idealistie standpoint, that such a cat in
elysm as the present could take place BE-
ct il broke forth with tremendous fury ha
lmost without warming. SO an unset y
led fight now cannot mean permanent IN
esce when nations disregard treaties as ST
hsmefully as they have disregarded az
hem during the past two and one.half :, :,
ears. %
lnl