The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-29
Message to German People.

lBy j. w. L. mason, WTilten lol sAo
United Press.1
| NEW YORK, Aug. 29.-President
Wilson's reply to the pope's peace
plea is assurance to the German peo-
pie that if they overthrow the kais-
er's military camarilla and democra-
tie themselves, they will be given
peace terms which will not jeopardize
democratic Germany's future growth.
This is the meaning of the presi-
dents basic announcement against
punitive damages, the dismember-
ment of empires, the establishment or
selfish and exclusive economic
leagues" These three factors have
lately been associated together Win
the kaiser as the real aims or the
allies in his final effort to delude the
German people into believing they
are fighting defensive war LOT ma
tional self preservation.
| President Wilson in single SEN
| tence annihilates the kaiser's argu-
| ment. The German people are told
on the word of the allies chief demo
cratic spokesman that If Germany IS
ldemocratized, she will not be crippled
after the war by the imposition OF
crushing indemnities, nor will any
economic league be formed against
her out of revengeful purposes nor
will the German empire be dismem-
bered. No matter how long they
fight, the German people will never
win better terms than these.
In particular the presidents dec
| laration against economic leagues
should have a powerful influence IN
converting German commercial ana
financial influences to democracy. IN
dustrial Germany has greatly reared
that after the war the allies would
insist upon an economic Doycott Oh
the Germans. The presidents WORDS
| convey an assurance that no such
penalty will be inflicted upon a Ger
many which repudiates the kaiser S
war machine by establishing demo
cratic form Of government.
| German finance and commerce
therefore have an opportunity to save
theselyes as well as Germany by
working for a democracy.
| With President Wilson's message
to ponder, it may well be that some
courageous German will soon declare
| the Hohenzollerns are doing aftai
disservice to Germany by continuing
their semi-autocratic power. After
that may come the deluge and upon
the deluge will float the ark OF
peace.
Catholics Approve Reply.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Aug. 20
While the presidents answer to the
papal peace proposal made pro-
found impression with high Catholic
church officials here attending the
convention of the American Fedora
ltion of Catholic Societies, all refused
to connect their names with comment
| "Our position was made clear IN
the resolutions adopted yesterday,
said one official I'VE are Catholics
land Americans We acclaimed the
peace proffer of the holy father and
hoped that it would result in peace.
But we also made it clear that Catho-
lie America Is ready to sacrifice her
treasure and blood for American
principles"
It was evident that the presidents
step was approved.
CommentiNg on the war program
of America. Archbishop John j.
Glennon, st. Louis, said:
"Regardless as to what the out
come of the war will be, America
Ishould go on with her work OF fash.
ifoning a strong army. She shouid
build up a military machine strong
enough to protect itself from enemy
power In the future.
Eventually l expect the plans OF
lex-President Taft and the holy 1ath-
Ter for total disarmament, Will become
a reality, but until then America
should be prepared.
disarmament can only come by
daerees Moral force is losing
| dau and II is only
4 through a strong military force that
wa will be able to preserve peace for
| ourselves. We should make ourselves
co strong that, no mercenary power
would dare attack u.s.
Sees Throne lettering.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-President
Wilson sees the throne or Hohen-
zoilern beginning to crumble.
| evidences of weakening OF the
kaiser's hold on the empire; increas-
ing boidness among the leaders OF
the democratic faction, and above
all signs of imperial anxiety at the
growing moral forces opposing him
reveal the kaiser in weaker cond1-
lion today than at any time during
the war.
The president believes that If the
German people can only learn the
truth. the end Of the great struggle
will be at hand. That is why he en-
/ phasized in his. reply 10 Pope Bene-
dict that only the kaiser stands be-
tween the German people and free
dom from the grip of war;
| That is why he emphatically de
clared he sympathized with no allied
plan to formulate an economic league
with the post bellum boycott of Ger
MANY in view. officials here regard
the Paris conference at which such
a plan was laid, but in which Amer
lea did not participate. as one Of the
allied plumbers serving to consolidate
/ the German people behind the kaiser.
The president repudiated this con-
ferance in effect and did so after