Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-01-25
No Peace With Dishonor.
Asheville citizen.

=
celtain phases OF presentation,
the reply of the entente powers to
President Wilson's peace note, is
the reply that was made by them
q short time ago to Germany's
peace overtues. In substance it
is a repetition Of the declaration
that there can be no peace with
out Nparation or atonement.
Such q reply was foreseen in both
instances by any one who has
studied the origin and progress
of the worlds bloodiest conflict.
Before the allied powers OF Eu-
rope consent to sit in a court of
peace their common adversary,
Germany, must come into court
with clean hands, an open avow-
al that she is prepared to make
avowal that she is prepared to
make restitution to the victims
of her militaristic ambitions, and
that she will be a party in good
faith to any agreement that will
insure the future peace and sale.
ty Of the world. Less than that
the allies could not demand, nor
Germany refuse. The whole case
rests on, and revolves around
the promise of responsibility for
the present conflict. The facts
are plain and clear. Despite Ger
many's attempt to evade the is
sue, the world in general, out
side the Prussian domains, knows
who first declared wac and en-
couraged the movements leading
up to it. The initial bolt was shot
from a comparatively clear sky
by Austria, with Germany's ap-
proval, and Berlin itself followed
uit before a single member OF
the entente had even uttered u
threat of war. This is not sup
position; it is recorded in histo-
ry that will never fade from the
memory OF man.
The events that followed, lead
ing off with the wanton and bru.
tai violation of Bclgium's neu-
trality and the devastation OF
northern France, where blazoned
over the world before Great Brit
ain and her allies took up t h e
challenge. Germany's guilt in
creased as sleeping towns and
cities were visited with murder
GUS assaults from land and sky,
while women and children were
swallowed up in the irightfulvor-
tex of Germany's making. Prus-
sianism was thus indicted for the
violation OF every known code OF
warfare. Even while she pleaded
for peace, with a mock display of
solicitude for suffering humanity,
she was carrying Belgians into
slavery by the thousands, as the
Romans of old carried their cap.
tives into exile and oppression.
Could the allies, in self respect,
and in observance of the most
sacred pledges, treat with an op'
ponent whose guilt became a
boast? The entente powers have
answered.
ii.
Thus stands the balance; there
can be no peace with dishonOr,
for we're it otherwise the cessa-
tion OF present hostilities would
be but the prelude to a greater
world conflict IN which our own
country wonld be involved. And
in such a deplorable consuumma
ton there could be no more al
flictiDg thought than that We
ourselves had brought it on, and
and had been a party to it, by
our unwarranted and ill-time(
meddling in foreign affairs that
did not concern US. AS n matter
OF fact, the late OF our future civ
llization-the worlds civilization
is at stake. Victory for the al
lies, who have so many interests
in common with our own, vii
mean a freerand happier Europe