Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-06-15
PRESIDENTS FLAG DAY SPEECH

PRESIDENTS FLAG DAY SPEECH
Papers throughout the country are
loud in their praise of the speech de-
liyercd by President Wilson on the
Washington Monument Grounds IN
Washington yesterday. 1t is justly
regarded as the most lucid expose OF
German aims-especially towards
peace at a time most suspicious fol
the war lords-and contains many
practical thoughts for the people OF
the nation which have been forced to
declare war against country which
years ago planned to bring the world
under Teuton domination, including
America. Mr.. Wilson'S speech should
be read closely and studied by every
lover of liberty.
All the papers which comment upon
the address have done we'll, as Alex
ander the Great told the gymsoph!sts.
The writers seem TO have been at
their best.
The Baltimore American, among
other things, says:
The President rips aside the cloak
of duplicity, he enters into the in
fernal star chamber Of the spoilers
of the age and he brings forth and
holds exposed to the view Of the
age and for the records of history
the most malevolent and Internally
conceived and prosecuted plot against
human freedom that the world has
ever known. Never in councils out
side of Hadcs and SURPRISING the
worst evidence of diabelica.ism tnat
has been revealed in human affairs,
this peace plot, this high treason
against the race, stands out in the
burning sentences. of MIR. Wilson as
a scheme of deep damnation con-
ceived by Germany for the destruc-
ton of the symbols and The guaran-
tees of human freedom. Were The
German plans to have been consum-
mated the world would have awaken
ed to the horrors now exposed by
Mr.. Wilson. Brought to light. the
plot will shrivel and die as the sap
roots Of poison ivy are killed by the
direct rays of the sum- The world will
feel a profound debt of gratitude to
Mr.. Wilson for crystallizing and Civ
ing concrete expression to the aims
of Germany that many have apprc-
hended but could not nearly so we'll
express.
The Washington Post contains a
spirited article which shows the des
peratc straits of Germany after near
ly three years war. 1t says:
President Wilson's address OF yes
terdav clearly exposes the reasons
why Germany is now intriguing for
peace. Having executed part or the
plan for the conquest and consolida-
ton OF a central European empire
extending from the North Sea to
Asia Minor, and having possession
of valuable trading material in
France. Belgium and Poland. Ger
many finds its dream of world do
mination shattered, new enem:cs rls-
ing, domestic discomfort and its re-
sources diminishing. The German war
lords know better than any one else
that their fortunes are on the cbb.
They would make peace while there
is something remaining to their ad-
vantage. The world has passed the
point where it was compelled to give
ground to German militarism. The
gains made by Germany are p:ainly
attributable to the fact that the
world was taken unawa-es bv the
combined strength and barbarity of
Germany. Humanity was not aware
that murderer nation was p:oit:nr
against its life. Men fondlv supposed
that civilization had advanced be-
Tcnd the age Of the deliberate as
sassination of nations. William II
posed as a patron of the arts. boosted
Of progress in peace. and concealed
his real nature so crafty that the
wor!d did not suspect that nc was
throwb9ck to the age Of barharism.
He and his associated assass,ns were
ahlH to build up murder machine of
colossal proportions. and within al
month after the completion Of the
Kiel canal the machine was set in
motion. Franz Josef was the tool
THROUGH which the trap was snrung.
and S"rbio was to be the first VIC
tim. If tic great powers Ilati not
taken alarm William II would have
dominated the world