The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-26

or the military autocracy or Prussia
by the commercial, financial. military
and naval forces OF the world. Civ
ing assurance. nevertheless. to the
governments Of Germany and Austria
OF their willingness to admit the Teu-
tonic powers as members of the pro-
posed international union on equal
terms with other nations when they
shall have met the conditions and
given satisfactory guarantees,
Fifteenth. In our opinion no re-
lance should be placed upon the va
que suggestions of peace OF the Teu-
tonic military autocracy, but that their
obscure proposals should be regarded
merely az a military ruse, The peace
resolution OF the reiehstag. while pro-
missing we'll for the attitude of the
German people. when they achieve
self government. can not at present
be regarded as proposal binding on
or capable of enforcement by the
German people, because they do not
control their own government. but
are mere subjects and puppets of
military autocracy which has long
cdSlspired anc still dreams of con-
quering the world by military force
and terrorism. The United States and
the nations opposing militarism should
strenuously prosecute the war with
every availa bile resource. and no sep
arate peace should be made by any OF
them until the menace Of the military
autocracy of Germany is removed.
Sixteenth, II Is our opinion that II
q worldwide agreement can be es
tabiished ON the above principles. and
the men now engaged in slaughter
and destructive activities can he re-
turned To productive Industry. the
world could quickly recover the Ct
gantic shock OF the present war ana
would be able without serious elf
ficulty 10 soon repair the material in
jures and losses already suffered
Seventeenth. The United States
does not enter this war Tor nlateria!
advantage, fer any selfish purpose. or
10 crafty either malice or ambition.
The United States will not approve
forcihle anneSations or mere punt
tive indemnttiss but 1t will approve
a free Poland. the restoration IF ter
r!'ory wrongfully taken from France
and italy. and restorative indemnity
10 Belgium and Serbia. and the adj
justment af other differences nv tn
ternatlonal conferences. Ii will favor
extending international credits for the
restoration OF all places made waste
by war, Tho United States enters
this war IN self-defense; TO protect It's.
own citizens and the nations of the
world in their present and future
rights TO life and liberty on land and
sea. II does not wish the world To
remain an armed camp.
Eighteenth. No peace is desirable
until the world can be safeguardad
against a repetition OF the present
war. Connective ornaments must
he ended and replaced by information
al GO operative ornaments In order TO
assure permanent world peace.
Nineteenth That the president of
United States shall Immediately sub
NIT the above resolution to the beiltg-
erent nations now defending them
selves against Prussian military au-
tocracy and invite them and all neu-
trail nations by wire to an information
al convention for the purpose OF con-
sidering the above principles and TAX
ing affirmative action for the early
suppression OF the Teutonic military
autocratic conspiracy by the comhin-
ed commercial. financial. military and
naval powers OF all nations.
Twentieth. The sum of s4oo, 900 Is
hereby appropriated to meet the cost
OF promoting such convention.