The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-11-08

| henceforth insure the Observance OF
| those principles.
| Neutrality liz no longer feasible or
desirable where the peace of the world
In Involved and the freedom OF Its peo-
| pies, and the menace to that peace and
| freedom lies in the existence of auto
| cratic governments, backed by organ
| lied force which IN controlled wholly
by their WILL not by the Will Of their
people. We have seen the last or neu-
raIity In such circumstances. We ARE
AZ the beginning OF an nEe In which IL
VIII he insisted TINT the same stand
ards of conduct and Of responsibility
for wrong done shall he observed
among nations and their governments
that are observed among the individual
citizens of civilized states.
We have no quarrel with the German
people We have no feeling toward
them but one Of sympathy and friend
ship IL was not upon their impulse
that their government acted I'm enter
ing the war It was not with their
previous knowledge or approval. II
was a war determined upon as wars
used to be determined upon in the old
unhappy days when peoples were no
where consulted by their rulers and
wars were provoked and waRed in the
interest Of dynastles or OF little groups
OF ambitious men who were accustomed
TO use their fellow men as pawns and
tools.
seIf-governed nations do not hII their
Beigbbor 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 cnn be
successfully worked out only under
cover and where no one has the right
10 ask questions. Cunningly cOBtrived
plans of deception or aggression, cnr-
ried, IL mny he from generation To gen
Grafton, can he worked out and Kept
from the Hight only within the privacy
of courts or behind the carefully guard
ed condolences of narrow and priVf-
legged class. They are happily impossi-
bile where public opinion commands and
insists upon full information concern
Ing all the nations affairs.
steadfast concert for peace can
never he maintained except by part
nershIp of democratic nations. No au-
tocratic government could he trusted
to keep faith within IL or observe Its
covenants. II must he lehgue OF
honor, partnership of opinion. In
triRue would eat Its yitnls nwayI the
pIottings of inner circles who could
plan what they would. and render nc
count to no one, would he n corruption
pie ran hold their purpose and their
honor stendy to common end ana
prefer the interest of mankind to any
narrow Interest Of their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added TO our nope
for the future peace OF the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
last few weeks in Russia? Russia was
lar hos
10 have been always in fact democratic
nj heart in all vital habits of her
thought. In all the intimate relation
ships of her people that spoke their
natural Instinct, their bsbitual attitude
toward life. The Rutocracy that CROWN
ed the summit of her political Htruc-
ture, long as II had stood and terribie
ns was the reality OF Its power was
not In fact Russian In origin char"c-
ter, or purpose. and now IL mas peeh
shaken of and the great generous Rus
sian people have been added, In ali
their native majesty and might TO the
forces that are lighting for freedom In
the world. for Justice, and for peace.
Here is fit partner for league OF
honor
One OF the things that have served
TO convince rs that the Prussihn hnto-
crncy was not and could never be our
friend IL TINT from the very outset OF
the present war II has filled our un-
suspectIng communities, and even our
offices of government, with spies and
set criminal intrigues everywhere hio"t
against our national unity of counsel
our peace within and without, our In
dustrIes, md our commerce. Indeed "
~ now evident that Its spies were here
even before the war begun and IL IN
unhappily not matter OF conJectnre'
but u fact proven In our courts or JUS
uce. that the intrigues when nave
more than once come perilouSly near 10
disturbing 'he peace and diaiocning
the Industries OF the country, have been
cnrrIed on Mt the InstIRntion, with the
support, and even under the personnl
directions of official agents of the linz
periaI government accredited 40 the
government of the United states.
Even In checking these things and
irving to cNtirpnte them we have
sought to put the most generous Inter
probation possible upon them, because
we knew that their source lay not In
amy hostile feeling or purpose OF the
German people toward US twho were
no doubt, as ignorant of them aS we
ourselves wereD, but only In the selfish
designs of a government that did what
Il pIenHed and told It's people nothing.
Hut they have played their part In rerv-
ing 90 convince us AT last that that
government entertRlns no real friend
ship for us and means 20 net against
our pence and security at its convent
cnce. That n means 20 stir up enemies
against us NJ our very doors, the In
terccpted note 10 the German minister
at Mexico city In eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge OF
hostile purpose bccnuHe we know that
H.. mt
methods. we can never have friend.
and that In the presence of Its organ
lied power, always lying In wait TO
accomplish We know not what pur-
pose, there can be no assured security
Tor the democratic governments of the
world. We are now about TO accept
the gage Of battle with the natural foe
TO liberty and shall, II necessary spend
the whole force Of the nation to check
and nullify It's pretensions and i,7 pow
or. We are glad now that we see the
facts with no veil of false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the ulti-
mate peace of the world and for the
liberation OF Its peoples, the German
peoples tnclrdr for the rights of mr.
tions, great and small and the priNi-
Iege OF men everywhere to choose their
way of life and Of obedience.
The world must he made safe for
democracy, Its peace must he planted
upon the tested foundations Of political
liberty. We have no selfish ends to
serve We desire no conquests no
dominion. We seek no indemnitIes for
ourselves, mn material compensation
for the -acYinccs we shall freely make.
We are hut one Of the champions OF
the rights OF mankind We shall be
satisfied when those rights have been
made as secure as the faith and the
freedom OF nations can make them
Just because we night without rancor
aud without selfish object, seeking
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