Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-06
MIR. WILSON'S RINGING WORDS.


President Wilson in his message to Con-
gress Tuesday sounded clarion notes
Of vigorous war and permanent peace that
should be heard round the world. He re-
stated the objects of this war in way
that should reassure our allies as we'll as
disarm our enemies. He reiterated our
determination to fight the war to a deci-
sive finish. He showed the kind Of peace
for which we are struggling. The first
measure is to declare war against Austria
Hungary. because we are now confronted
by that necessity. Bulgaria and Turkey
are not included in that necessity by cir
cumstances at present.
The President summarizes our aims in
this war BY declaring first that we are not
seeking to annihilate Germany but to make
the German people free to consummate an
enduring peace with the free people Of all
other nations.
AZ . means to this end I'VE must crush
that intolerable thing of which the mas
ters Of Germany have shown US the ugly
face. this menace of combined intrigue
and force. which we now see so clearly as
the German power. a thing without con-
scienceor honor or capacity for covenanted
peace, and If 1t be not utterly brought to
An end, at least shut out from the friend
ly intercourse Of the nations"
When this thing and its power are de-
feated and the German people have
spokesman whose word can be believed
and when these spokesman are ready in
the name Of their people to accept the
common Judgment Of nations as to what
shall henceforth be the basis Of law and
covenant for the life Of the world. then
In the words Of tho President. I'VE shall
b willing and glad to pay the full price
for peace. and pay It ungrudgingly."
We know what the price will be, the
President continues. 1T will be full. i'm
partial justice-justice done at every point
and to every nation that the final settle
ment may affect. our enemies as we'll as
our friends"
That 10 the general statement Now let
~ briefly summarize the particulars
President Wilson holds that peace must
be based on the policy Of the crushing Of
no nation not even Germany, much less
Austria Hungary.
We do not try to say what sort Of gov
srnment the Germans or Austrians shall
have. but merely that they shall have re-
sponsibls and believable spokesman to
represent them in ensuring stable peace.
The German people have been allowed
to have no opinion Of their own which
might be set up as a rule of conduct. The
Russian people have been poisoned by the
very same falsehoods that have kept the
German people In the dark and the poison
has been administered by the very same
hands.
Germany must undo the wrongs done by
its rulers not only to Belgium and France
but also to Austria. Bulgaria and Turkey
through the extending over them Of q
power that has become baneful. The
many must be relinquished
Germany must deliver the once fair fail
lands and happy people Of Belgium ant
northern France from the Prussian con
quest and the Prussian menace. TIL,
President says we shall hope to secur,
also for the people Of Austria and tn,
Balkan peninsula and of the Turkish EN-
pire the right and opportunity to max,
their own lives safe and their own for
tunes secure from the diotation of foreigl
courts or parties No sacrifice will b.
spared to promote these ends for all ma
lions. Other points in the message ar
summarized as follows:
We must set ourselves to the winning o
this war.
We should have very definite contro
over the entrance and departure Of al
persons into and from the United States.
We should 20 further in authorizing tn
government to set limits to prices. o.
what farmers have to buy. for example
as we'll as what they have to SELL
We should have full use Of the country
water power and the development Of othe