Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-09-01

NSht h'i9ou Icpl! 70 tue peace
proposals OF Pope Benedict:
To His Holiness Benedictus Ky.
Pope:
in acknowledgment of the commu.
nieation of your Holiness To the bel
ligerent peoples, dated August /,
1917, the President of the United
States requests me to- transmit the
following reply:
Every heart that has not been
blinded and hardened by this terrible
war must be touchd by this moving
appeal of His Holiness the Pope,
must feel the dignity aid force of
the humane and generous motives
which prompted it, and must fever
ishly wish that We might take the
path of peace he so persuasively
points out, but 1t would be folly to
take II If 1t does not in fact lead to
the goal he proposes. Our response
must be based upon the stern facts
and upon nothing else. 1t is not a
mere cessation of arms he desires;
it is a stable aid enduring peace
This agony must not be gone through
with again, and 1t must be matter
OF very sober Judgment that will in
sure US against 1t.
His Holiness, in substance, pro-
poses tilat we return TO tine status
quo ante bellum, and that then
there be a general condolation, dis
armament, and concert of nations
based upon an acceptance OF the
principle of arbitration; that by a
similar concert, freedom of the seas
be established; and that the terri
torial claims of France and Italy,
the perplexing problems of the Bal
kan States, and the restitution Of Po-
land be left to such concilatogy I'd
justments as may be possible in she
new temper of such peace. due re-
gard being paid to the aspirations of
the peoples whose political fortunes
and affiliations will be involved.
1t is manifest that no part OF this
program can be successfully carried
out unless the restitution of the
status quo ante furnishes a firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object
satisfactory basis for it. mbh NH
of this warts to deliver the free peo-
Piles of the world OF the world from
the meance and the actual power OF
vast military establishment con
trolled by an irresponsible govern
ment, which. having secretly plan
ned to dominate the world. proceeded
to carry the plan out without regard
either to tn sacrdiehe Ttuthe mhh
either to the sacred obligations o.
treaty or the long-establisAed prac-
tices and long-cherished principles o.
international action and honor;
which chose dts own time for the
war; delivered its blow fiercely and
suddenly stopped at no barrier
either or law Or mercy; swept a
whole continent within the tide OF
/ blood-not the blood of soldiers only
F, but the blood OF innocent women
and children also. and of the helpless
poor; and now stands baked but moi
defeated, the enemy of four-ffths o.
| the world. This power is not the
German people. 1t is the ruthles;
master OF the German people. II Il
no business OF ours how that great
people CAME under its control or sub
mitted with temporary zest TO the
domination of its purpose; but 1t is
our bushes to see to it that the his
tory of the rest of the world is nt
| longer left to its handling.
To deal with such a power by way
!, OF peace upon the plan proposed by
His Holiness the Pope would, so fal
| as we can see, involve a recuperatior
Of it strength and renewal OF rs
! policy: would make it necessary L
create a permanent hostile combina
/ tons against the German people
I, who are is instruments. and would
result in abandoning the newborn
Russia to the intrigue. the manifolS
subtle interference. and the certain
), counrer-revoluton which would b
! attempted by all the maliSn innu
!, ences to which the German Govern
j ment has OF late accustomed thu
world. Can peace be based upon
restitution of it's power or upon an.
Continued on page tvo.)