The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-04

eomprehsnds the issues involved.
No representative Of any self"
governed nation will dare disre-
gard il by attempting any such
covenants Of sslfshness and
compromise as were entered into
at the congress of Vienna. The
thought Of the plain people here
and sVsryNNhere throughout the
world. the people who enjoy no
privilege and have very simple
and unsophisticated standards
of right and wrong, is the air all
governments must henceforth
breathe 10 they would live.
TT liz in the full disclosing light
Of that thought that all policies must
be conceived and executed in this
midday hour OF the worlds life.
German rulers have been able TO up
set the peace Of the world only be-
cause the German people were not
suffered under their tutelage to
share the comradeship 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 be set up as a rule Of
conduct for those who exercised au-
thority over them. But the congress
that concludes this war will feel the
full strength Of the tides that run
now in the hearts and consciences Of
free men everywhere. Its conclusions
will run with those tides.
True From Beginning.
"AII these things have been true
from the very beginning Of this
stupendOus war; and / cannot help
thinking that IL they had been made
plain at the very outset the sym
pathy and enthusiasm OF the Russian
people might have been once for all
enlisted on the side OF the allies,
suspicion and distrust swept away
and a real and lasting union of pur-
pose 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 recently
marked the progress of their affairs
towards an ordered and stable gov
eminent OF free men might have been
avoided.
The Russian people have been
poisoned by the very same faIsehoods
that have kept the German people
in the dark and the poison has been
administered by the very same
hands. The only possible antidote Is
the truth. II cannot be uttered too
plainly or too often.
Attfude NOT bltered.
From every point Of view. there
fore. IL has seemed TO be my duty
to speak these declarations Of pur-
pose to add these specific interpre-
tations to what / took the liberty Of
saying to the senate in January. Our
entrance into the war has not alter
cd our attitude toward the settle
ment that must come when II is
over. When said in January that
the nations Of the world were en-
titled not only to free pathways
upon the sea but also TO assured and
unmolested access TO these pathways
I was thinking, and I am thinking
now. not of the smaller and weaker
nations alone which need our coun- |
tenance and support, but also Of the /
great and powerful nations. and Of |
our present enemies as well as our !
present associates In the war. / was
thinking, and am thinking now Of /
Austria herself. among the rest, as |
well as Of Serbia and Of Poland. Jus l
tice and equality of rights can be had /
only at great price. We are seek /
ing permanent, not temporary, foun- /
dations for the peace Of the world /
and must seek them candidly and \
fearlessly. AS always the right viii \
prove to be the expedient.
Clear Away All Impediments.
What shall we do, then, to push /
this great war OF freedom and justice \
to its righteous conclusion? We /
must clear away with a thorough |
hand all impediments TO success and 4
We must make every adjustment Of
law that viii facilitate the full and
free use Of our whole capacity and
force as a fighting unit.
Zone very embarrassing OBJ
stacle that stands in our way ia
that we are at war with Germany
but not with her allies. { there
fore very earnestly recommend
that the congress Immediately
declare the United States in state
of war with Austria Hungary.
Does IL seem strange TO you that
this should be the conclusion Of
the argument ! have Just ad-
dressed TO your IL is not. Il 10
in fact the inevitable Logic Of
what have said. Austria Hun
gary 10 for the time being not
her own mistress but simply the
Vassai Of the German govern
msnt.
I'VE must face the facts as they
are and act upon them without senti-
ment in this stern business. The
government Of Austria Hungary is
not acting upon it's own initiative or
In response 70 the wishes and feel
ings OF its own peoples but as the
Of another nation
I'VE must meet its force with our
own and regard the central powers
as but one. The war can be success
fully conducted in no other way. The
same logic would lead also TO q
declaration OF war against Turkey
and Bulgaria They also are the
tools Of Germany. But they are
mere tools ana do not yet stand in
The direct path Of our necessary ac-
ton. We shall 60 wherever the
OF this war carry Us, but
Ii seems 70 me thai we should go
only where immediate and practical
considerations lead Us and not heed
any others.
The financial and military meas
lres which must be adopted will sug-
gest themselves as the war and its
develop, but W.. take
the liberty OF proposing to you GER
tain other acts Of legislation which
seem 70 me to be needed for the
support OF the war and for the re-
lease OF our whole force and energy.
IL win be necessary TO extend in cer-
tain particulars the legislation Of the
last session with regard 70 alien
enemiess and also necessary, be-
lieve. TO create q very definite and
particular control over the entrance
and departure OF all persons into and
from the United States.
legislation should be enacted de-
dning as a criminal 0fgense every
Wilful violation Of the presidential
Droclamations relating 20 alien
enemies promulgated under section
f067 Of the revised statutes and
providing appropriate punIshments.
and women as wei az men should be