New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-29

TNvERY heart that has not been blinded and
r. hardened by this terrible war must oe
- touched by this moving appeal of His Holi-
ness the Pope must feel the dignity and force OF
the humane and generous motives which prompted
it, and must fervently wish that we might take
the path of peace he so persuasively points out.
But it would be folly to take it if it does not IN
fact lead to the goal he proposes. Our response
must be based upon the stern facts and upon moth
ing else. This agony must not be gone through
with again; and it must be matter of very sober
judgment what will insure US against 1t.
His Holiness in substance proposes that we re-
turn to the status quo ante bellum, and that then
there be a general condonation, disarmament and
a concert of nations based upon an acceptance OF
the principle of arbitration; that by similar con-
cert freedom Of the seas be established; and that
the territorial claims of France and Italy the
perplexing problems Of the Balkan States and
the restitution Of Poland be left to such con-
ciliatory adjustments as may be possible IN the
new temper of such peace, due regard beng
paid TO the aspirations Of the peoples whose po-
htical fortunes and affiliations will be involved.
1t is manifest that no part of this programme
can be successfully carried out unless the restitu-
ton of the status quo ante furnishes firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object Of this war
is to deliver the free peoples of the world from the
menace and the actual power Of vast military es-
tablishment controlled by an irresponsible govern
ment. which. having secretly planned to dominate
the world, proceeded to carry the plan out with
cut regard either to the sacred obligations Of
treaty or the long established practices and long
cherished principles of international action and
honor which chose its own time for the war de-
iiverei its biuw hercelT and suddenly; stopped at
no barrier either of law or of mercy; swept
whole continent within the tide of blood-not the
blood Of soldiers only, but the blood of innocent
women and children also, and of the helpless, OF
the poor-and now stands baked but not de-
feated. the enemy of four-ffths of the world.
This power is not the German people. 1t is the
ruthless master of the German people. 1t is no
business of ours how that great power came under
its control or submitted with temporary zest to
the domination of it's purpose; but it is our bust
ness TO see TO it that the history of the rest OF the
world is no longer left to its handling.
To deal with such a power by way Of peace
upon the plan proposed by His Holiness the Pope
would. so far as we see involve recupera-
tion of its strength and renewal of its policy;
would make it necessary to create permanent
hostile combination of nations against the German
neople. who are its Instruments; and would result
in abandoning the new born Russia to the in
tripue the manifold subtle interference, and the
certain counter revolution which would be at
TEMPTED by all the magn influences to which the
German government has of late accustomed the
world Can peace be based upon a restitution of
its power or upon any word of honor it could