New Britain herald., 1917-08-31


Pope. That had been done many
times before. and very ably. There
is not an enlightened man in the
world today, outside of Germany, who
does not know why the United States
entered the conflict. There is not a
man, woman or child, unless con-
nected with the propaganda leveled to
disrupt public opinion in this country,
who does not know why we are fight
ing. And, although the President
merely skinned over these things,
there is one pertinent part of his mes
sage which deserves more than pass
ing attention. 1t is: 1.-The object of
this war is to deliver the free peo-
pies of the world from the menace
and the actual power Of a vast mill
itary esta blishment controlled by an
irresponsible government, which, hav-
ing secretly planned to dominate the
world, proceeded to carry the plan
out without regard either to the sa-
cred obligations Of treaty or the long
esta blished practices and long cher
ished principles Of international &C
ton and honor-which chose it's own
time for the war-delivered its blow
hercely and suddenly. stopped at no
barrier either of law or of mercy;
swept a whole continent within the
tide of blood-not the blood Of SOL
diers only, but the blood of innocent
women and children also and Of the
helpless poor, and now stands baked
f1fths of the world. This power is
not the German people. It is the
ruthless master of the German peo-
pie. It Is no business Of ours how
that great people came under its con-
troll or submitted with temporary zest
to the domination of it's purpose; but
1t Is our business to see to it that
the history of the rest of the world
IS no longer left to it's handling"
That is the part of the Presidents
message which should be before every
power which is not the German peo-
pie, but the ruthless master of the
German people," How. when or why
the German people came under the
sinister influence of these military
masters is of no concern at the mo-
mont. How they like their form Of
government is no business Of ours.
What the German people like and
what they do not like has nothing to
do with the case. This, though, is
our business: to see to it that the
blood-thirsty crew do not fall heavily
upon the shoulders of civilization out
side the German Empire. One fifth
of the world may submit to the doc
trine of Divine Rights, if it Will;
four-fifths Of the world will fight that
they may remain free.
If the German people understood
these things as we understand them
there would be little doubt as to the
duration of the war. But the Ger
man people do not understand. Their
ruthless master, or masters, will not
let them understand. The German
people have been taught to believe
they are fighting for their very exist
ence; that those opposed to their gov
eminent in this war have but the
one object in mind, the complete sub
jugation of the German people; that
the Allies,-and especially England
want nothing more nor less than the
pleasure of destroying the German
Empire. President Wilson, in his
! message to Rome, has branded this
| falsehood where it stands. He has
| said: I'VE seek no material advan-
tage of any kind. Punitive
| damages, the dismem berment of en-
! pires, the establishment of selfish and
| exclusive economic leagues we deem
inexpedient and in the end worse than
| futile, no proper basis for a peace
during peace" And the President OF
the United States has spoken for the
entire world outside of Germany. NJ
one except Germany wants any ma.
terial advantage. If the German PEG
ole could realize this we might have
peace before Christmas. So long a.
the Imperial Government stAna
baked but not defeated there is NJ