Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-12-06

false, and we must seek by the ut
most openness aRdScandor as to our
real aims to convince them of its false
ness. We are III fact fighting for their
emancipation from fear, along with
CUP own1from che fear as we'll as
from the fact af unjust attack by
neighh0rs or rivals or schemers after
world empire. No one is threaten
ing the existence of or the indepen-
denee or the peaceful enterprise of
tn German empire.
Not Again to Be Trusted.
wrhe worst that can happen to the
German people is this, that if they
should still, after the war is over.
continue to be obligated 10 live under
terested to disturb the peace of the
world, men OF classes of men whom the
other peoples of the world could not
trust, 1t might be impossible to admit
them to the partnership of nations
which must heneeforth guarantee the
he partnership of peoples, not mere
partnership of governments. 1t might
be impossible, also, in such untoward
circumstances, to admit Germany to
the free economic intercourse which
must inevitably spring out of the other
partnerships of real peace. But
there would be no aggression in that;
and such a situation. inevitable be-
cause of distrust, would in the very
nature of things sooner or later cure
itself, by processes which would as
suredly set in.
Wrongs Must Be. Riehted.
THE wrongs, the Very deep wrongs,
committed IN this war. will have tosbe
righted. That of course. But they
cannot and must not be righted by the
commission of similar wrongs against
Germany and her allies.
THE world will not permit the com
mission of similar wrongs as a means
of reparaNon and settlement States
lnen must by this time have learned
that the opinion of the world is every
where wide awake and fully compre-
hends the issues involved. No repre-
sentative of any self-governed nation
win dare disregard it by attempting
any such covenants of selfishness and
compromise as We're e4tered into at the
congress of Vienna. The thought of
the2 plain people hefeR;nd everywhere
throughout the world. the people VILE
enjoy no privilege apl, have very SIM
pie and ,unsophisticatatl standards of
right and wrong, is tile air all govern
menfs must henceforth hreathefif they
would live 1t is in the full disclos-
ing light of that thought that all poll
cies must be conceived and executed in
this midday hour of the worlds life.
People Have No Say.
German rulers hAye been able TO up
set the peace of the world only because
the German people We're not suffered
under their tutelage To share the com
radsship of the other peoples of the
world either in thought or in purpose.
They were allowed to have no opinion
of their own which might he set up as
rule of conduct for those who eNer-
cised authority over them. But the
congress that concd hes this war will
feel the full strengthen the tides that
run now in the hearts and consciences
of freedom everywhere. Its cqncIu-
sions.will run with these tides.
"A'1t these things have been true
from the very beginning of this stu
pendous war; and Teapnot help think
ing that if they bad been made plain
at the very outset the sympathy and
cnthusiasm of the Russian people
mfgla have been omce fey all enlisted
on the side. of the allies suspicion and
dish'vst swept away, and rea! and
lasting union Of purpose effected. Had
they believed these things at the very
moment Of their revolution and had
they been confirmed In that belief
since, the sad reverses which have re-
Gently marked the progress of their
affairs towards an ordered and stable
government of freemen might have
been avoided.
"Ihe Russian people have been
poisoned by the very same falsehoods
that have kept the German people in
the dark, and the poison has been adj
ministered by the very same hands
The only possible arFtldote is the truth
1t cannot be utteredi too plainly or too
often.
Freedom of the Seas.
"irom every point of view, there
fore. 1t has seemed to be my duty to
sl,eok those declarations of purpose, to
add these specific interpretations to
what. took the liberty of saying to the
senate in January. Our entrance into
the war has not altered our attitude
towards the settlement that must come
when " is over. When ] said in Janu
ary tisAt the nations of the world were
entitled not only to free pathways up
on tl,h' sea but also TO assured and un
mol4sted access to those pathways
was Thinking. and | am thinking now
not OF the smaller and weaker nations
alone. which need our countenance ant
| slNporT. but also of fine great and pow
| eFful natfNn4s. and Of our present enc
| MES as we'll as our present associates
in the war. was thinking, and an
4 thinking now, of Austria herself
!. among, The rest, as well as of Serbs
4 and of holland Justice and equalit,
! of rights can be had only ut grea
prices We are seeking permanent, no
|. Temporary, foundations for the peac'
\ Of the world and must seek this can
! 1i1ly and fearlessfy. AS always, tn