The state herald., 1917-04-06


deal with them as having been framed
after very careful thought by thu
branch Of the government upon which
the responsibility of conducting the
war and safeguarding the nation Will
most directly fall.
Would indicate Principles Of Justice
While We do these things, these
deeply momentous things, let us be
very clear and make very clear to all
the world what our motives and our
objects are. My own thought has
not been driven from its habitual and
normal, course by the unhappy events
OF the last two months, and do not
believe that the thought Of the nation
has been altered or clouded by them.
have exactly the same things In
mind now that 1 had in mind when
addressed the Senate on the 22nd OF
January last; the same that had In
mind when addressed the Congress
on the 3rd of February and on the 26th
of February.
Our object. now, as then, Is to vim
dicate the principles OF peace and
justice in the life of the world as
against selfish and autocratic power
and to set up amongst the really free
and self-governed peoples Of the world
such concert of purpose and OF &C.
tion as will henceforth insure the OBJ
servance OF these principles.
Neutrality is no longer feasible OF
desirable where the peace Of the
world is involved and the freedom OF
its peoples. and the menace to that
peace and freedom lies In the exist
ence OF autocratic governments
backed by organized force which Il
controlled wholly by their will, not by
the will of their people. We have
seen the last Of neutrality In such
circumstances.
Quarrel with Government, Not People.
We are at the beginning Of an age
in which 1t will be insisted that the
same standards Of conduct and Of re-
sponsibility for wrong done shall be
observed among nations and the gov.
ernments that are observed among
the individual citizens Of civilized
states.
We have NO quarrel with the Ger.
man people. We have no feeling
toward them but one Of sympathy and
friendship. 1t was not upon their i'm.
pulse that their government acted In
entering this war. 1t was not with
their previous knowledge or approval.
It was war, determined upon %
wars used to be determined on In
the old unhappy days when peoples
were nowhere consulted by their
rulers and wars were provoked and
waged In the interest Of dynasties
or Of little groups Of ambitious men
who were accustomed to use their
fellow men a. pawns and tools.
Self-governed nations do not fill
their neighbor states with spies or
set the course Of intrigue to bring
about some critical posture Of affairs
which will give them an opportunity
to strike and make conquest. Such
designs can be successfully worked
only under cover, and where NO one
has the right to ask questions.
Cunningly contrived plans Of decep.
tion or aggression. carried, Il may
be from generation to generation, can
be worked out and kept from the
light only within the privacy OF
courts or behind the carefully guard.
cd condolences Of Q narrow and pri-
illeged class. They are happily i'm.
possible where public opinion com.
mands and insists upon full infor.
nation concerning all the nations
affairs.
SEES New Hops In Russian Revolt.
A steadfast concert for peace can
never be maintained except by u part.
nership OF democratic nations. No
autocratic government could be
trusted to keep faith within II or OBJ.
serve its covenants. II must be a
league Of honor. . partnership Of
opinion.
Intrigue would eat It's vitals away:
the plottings Of inner circles who
could plan what they would and ron.
der account to no one would be
corruption seated at It's very heart
Only free peoples can hold their pur.
pose and their honor steady to a
common end and prefer tho interests
OF mankind to any narrow interest of
their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added to oar hope
for tho future peace Of the world by
the wonderful and heartening thing,
that have been happening within the
last few weeks In Russia?
Russia was known by those who
knew II best to have been always In
fact democratic at heart. In ali tho
vital habits Of her thonght, in all tho
intimate relationships OF her people
that spoke their natural instinct, their
hnbitual attitude towards life.
The autocracy that crowned the
summit OF her political structure. long
ns II had stood and terrible ms was
the reality Of It's power. was not In
fact Russian In origin. character or
purpose: and now II has been shaken
OH and the great, generous Russian
people have been added In all their
native majesty and might to the forces
that arc fighting for freedom In the
world. for Justice and for peace. Here
In a III partner for = league OF honor,
Plots Aimed st Unity Of America.
One OF tho things that has served
10 convince us that tho Prussian au.
tocrncy was not and could never be
our friend is that from tho very out.
set OF tho present war Il has filled
our unsuspecting communities and
I