The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-06-14
THE PRESIDENTS PEACE
MESSAGE AND RUSSIAN AIMS

"Wha; are We fighting for ?" "For
what are you fighting" Those ar,
tho questions now ringing round the
world. Young Russia is shouting out
tina, twofold interrogation acroSs the
seas. Young America is eehoing back
the queries
Even the PrusSianiEed Germans are
stopping their blind fury under the
lash Of military absoluiism and de.
handing Of the Kaiser 10 know
whence and where and how IN the
absence Of auiocratic reply the are
I beginning 10 formulate answers "a
these two questions themselves. On
their reply in no small degree rests
the hope Of the worlds enduring
peace.
You read in our news columns yes
terday the full text Of President Vii
sons message preparing the way fol
the American mission 10 Potrograd
headed by that master diplomat and
American statesman, Elihu Root. That
message was addressed 10 Russia II
was made to all belligerent and neu-
trial nations. II summed up the whole
case for America so far as the outer
world is concerned.
The President did not mention the
Lusitania horror, the drowning of our
women and children on various ships,
the plotting of the Kaiser against the
peace and territorial integrity Of this
nation via Mexico and Japan, or the
sinking of our commerce bent upon
errands Of peace to neutral ports and
sailing under the supposedly protect
ing folds Of Old Glory.
We do not forget all these provoea
tons, which caused us to draw the
sword for the vindication Of our be-
loved flag and the sacredness of Am
erican rights. While we repel the
kaiser's attacks upon US, we have
gained a wider vision and entered up
on larger field Of service in this /!
great struggle We started out to
fight for our own liberty on land and
freedom on the seas. We have now
espoused the cause of humanity for
the whole world as well as our own
people, and championed democracy
round the globe as means to that
end.
President Wilson's ringing message,
declaring that we seek neither terri
tory nor war indemnity but fight for
he liberation of peoples everywhere
from autocracy, has already found re-
sponsc in every heart in every cline
breathing the spirit of liberty. Those
words must be as reassuring for the
newly liberated people of Russia as
hey are for all Germans who have
ong hoped for constitutional govern
nen and sclf-rule on their beloved
Rhine.
When once those communications
ire assured, America will be only too
,lad TO sheathe the sword and direct
IS energies again to the paths of
,eace and tothe uplift of the race
through all the instrumentalities
'laced in our hands. Then shall we
,ladly join in the inspiring words of
lipling's "Recessional," the second
tanza of which reads:
The tumult and the shouting dies
The Captains and the Kings de-
part !,
till stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
ord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
est we forget-lest we forget" c
That stanza sums up the cause for 9
,hich the world fights today as well i
S the future hope and aspiration OF t
If we win this war for G
berty and forget the ancient sacri-
ce, an humble and a contrite heart S
e win in vain. a
President Wilson'S message to Rus
"a breathes in prose the spirit which il
ipling's muse has helped make i'm +
iortal. But man shall not live by ex-