Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-22
Presidents Message Declaring
America in War to Finish,
Hailed With 10y.
ADDS AUSTRIA TO OUR FOES
Progress OF Russla's Efforts for Ar
mistIce-Germsns Sacrifice Men
ReckIessly In Furious Attacks
in France and Italy
American Troops to
Be Rushed Across.
BY EDWARD w. PiCKARD.

The United States is in the war 10
the finish--and that finish must be the
overthrow OF the Prussian military
despotism, the liberation and rest0ra-
ton Of the peoples 1t has enslayed
and reparation for the material dam
age its armies have done. When this
Is assured, the United States will in
sist on a peace that is based on gem
crosby and justice to ali alike, eX-
Guiding all selfish claims to advantage
even on the part of the yjctors. Mean
while Austria Hungary must be form
ally declared our foe in the war, and
"Our present and immediate task Is
to win that war.
Such in few words is The message
of President Wilson to congress, to
America, and especially to the world
He leaves no doubt OF the govern
ment's and the nations humanitarian
aims, and he makes equally plain the
determination never TO make peace
with the present rulers Of Germany
who have done such deep and abom-
Unable wrong" The president eX
pressly disavOws any intention to i'm
pair or rearrange the Austro-Hunga-
rian empire, but says that to the
Austro-Hungarians should be restored
independent control Of their own af-
fairs, and AYERS that the Balkan states
~ nd Ti1T,ty oh hn n ct
foreign oppression or injustice. Mr..
Wilson's polished diction does not con
ceal his contempt for the pacifists, the
traitors and others who seek TO ham
per the nation in the prosecution of
the war. When everyone else within
sound of his voice arose and cheered
the presidents impassioned statements,
Senator La Toilette, Representative
Mason and one or two more sulked ST.
lent In their seats. They are easily
classified
Message Warmly Approved,
Instant approval of the message was
general throughout the United States
and 1t received the hearty endorse
ment of the British and South Ameri-
can press, though some of the London
papers notably the Times, are skep-
tical about the distinction the presl-
dent still makes between the German
rulers and the German people. It must
be confessed q great many Americans
also feel the German people are not
so guiltless as Mr.. Wilson represents
them.
Congress lost little time In starting
for formal declaration Of
war against Austro-Hungary, and gov
agents throughout the cOun-
try at once began preparing to handle
the million and half enemy aliens
which 1t adds to the list. AS tens Of
of -Hungarlans have
been employed In the mines Of Amer
lea, there is danger Of serious short
age of mine labor 1t Is likely a good
ieal Of discrimination will be used In
dealing with such subjects Of the dual
as the Bohemians and vari-
1us Slavic races, who have no sym
pathy with the autocracy of their
-ulers.
BoIskeviki Peace Efforts.
The efforts of the Russian bolshe
Wiki to bring about general cessation
Of fighting was not markedly success
full last week. Large numbers Of Rus
sian troops were withdrawn from the
'front.' lines, and Austro-Hungary for
nally approved of the armlstice plan;
but when the representatives of
he Russians began discussion Of de-
ails with the Germans they met with
/ quick check. Their first two stipu-
ations were that the enemy should
not undertake to send forces from
he Russian front to the front Of Rus
las allies, and that the German de-
xchments should be withdrawn from