The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1917-09-07

rejected the peace proposals. Of Pope
Benedict XIV at this time.
fuas rote ssnt 10 tsfs popat IL d,
elaros that the United States must con
ttnue to fight until II Ia satisfied thai
u. psaos treaty would be more than
another scrap Of paper" to b torn b,
Geymany's rulers at will
The text OF the note follows:
~ 'ol,nesa Benedictus XIV. Pope:
acknowledgement OF the commun
Ieatlon of your holiness to the belllges'
ent peoples, dated Aug !, 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 touched BY this moving
appeal OF his holiness the pope. must
feel the dignity and force Of the hu-
name and generous motives which
prompted Il. and must rfervently wish
that we might take the path OF peace
he so pcrsuasivcly points out. But 1t
would De folly 10 take II II II does not
in fact lead to the goal he proposes
Our response must be based upon the
stern facts and upon nothing elsa II
Is net mere cessation Of arms no dc.
Stree: II Is q stable and enduring peace.
THIS agony must not be gone through
with again and II must be matter
OF very sober Judgment that VIII In
sure us against 1t.
~His holiness In substance proposes
that We return to the status quo ante
bellum. and that then there Do gen.
eral condonation. disarmament and a
concert al nations .baaAd, upon ,an a.
ceptance Of the principle OF arbitrs.
ton: that by . similar concert free
dom OF the seas be established; and
that territorial claims OF Franco and
Italy. the perpleYing problems OF the
Balkan statesS ard the restitution Of
Poland BE- left to such conciliatory I'd.
3ustments a. may be possible 81 the
peoples whose political fortunes and
affiliations will be involved
lnsIncerisy Suspected
IN h manifest that no part Of th1s
program can b. successfully carried
out unless the ssesitatton ot the Seatas
ono ante furnishes. \ firm and satts-
factory basls for It. The object OF this
war Ia to deliver tho free peoples OF
the world from the menace and the &C
tual power Of o vast military establish
ment controlled By an Irresponsible
government which. having secretly
planned 10 dominate the world pro,
ceeded to carry the plan out without
regard either TO the sacred obligations
of treaty or the long established prac.
Ices and long cherished principles OF
action and honor; which
chose It's own time for the var, deiiv-
cred Its blow rercely and suddenly,
stopped at no barrier. either Of law or
OF mercy. swept whole continent
within The tide Of hlood-not tina blood
OF soldiers only. but the blood OF inho-
cent women and childrea also, and OF
the helpless poor; and now stands
bslked. but not defeated. the enemy Of
.our-fitths OF the world This power IL
not the German people. II Is the ruth.
less master OF the German people 1t
IS no business ~ ours how that great
people came under It's control Or sub,
mi.ied with temporary Ees, 70 the dom.
nation Of Its purpose. but /. Is our
business 10 see TO Il that the history VI
the res, OF the world Is 10 longer left
10 It's handling
ITO deal with such power hv way
Of peace upon the plan proposed by
his holiness, the goaa, would, so far as
We can see, involve recupera;ion 81
lts strength and a renewal of its pei
ley: would make IL necessary &C. Gre
ate permanent hostiie combination
q nations against the German people.
who are its Instruments. aad wonii
result in abandoning the newborn
Russia 10 tAe intrigue, the manifold
suHtja iaterfe-enve and the certain
,0anter revelation which would be at
.enp,ea BY sll sse r}alixn Influences -
which the German government has OF