The Carlisle independent., 1917-06-21

They lave regarded the smaller states in particular. and the peoples wnd could be overwhelmed by force, as their natural tools and instruments of domination. Their purpose has long been avowed
 The demands made by Austria upon Serbia were a mere single step in plan which compasSed Europe and Asia, from Berlin to Bagdad They hoped those demands might not arouse Europe, but they meant to press them whether they did or not. for they thought themselves ready for the final issue of arms.
 Vast Empire Planned
 Their plan was to throw broad belt of German military power and political control across the very center of Flu rope and beyond the Mediterranean in- to the heart of Asia and Austria-Hun- gary was to be as much their tool and pawn as Serbia or Bulgaria or Turkey or the ponderous states of the East. The dream had its heart at Berlin. It AuQlNl nave 1di Il IledIl ltbNlltIc GISCs It rejected the idea of solidarity of race entirely. The choice of peoples played no part in it at all. They ar dently desired to direct their own af- fairs, would be satisfied only by undis- puted independence. They could be kept quiet only by the presence or the constant threat of armed men. The German military statesmen had reck- oned with all that and were ready to deal with it in their own way.
 And they have actually carried the greater part of that amazing plan into execution Look how things stand. Austria is at their mercy It has acted, not upon it's own initiative or upon the choice of it's own people, but at Der lins dictation ever since the war be- gan. Its people now desire peace, but cannot have it until leave is granted from Berlin. The so-called central powers are in fact but a single power. Serbia is at it's mercy, should its hands be but for moment freed. From Hamburg to the Persian gulf the net is spread.
 Why Berlin Seeks Peace.
 Is it not easy to understand the eag- erness for peace that has been mani fested from Berlin ever since the snare was set and sprung? Peace, peace. peace has been the talk of her foreign office for now q year and more; not peace upon her own initiative, but up- on the initiative of the nations over which she now deems herself to hold channels it has come to me. and in all sorts of guises. but never with the terms disclosed which the German gov ernment would be willing to accept. That government still holds valuable part of France. though with slowly re- laXing grasp, and practically the whole of Belgium. It cannot go further; it dare not go back It wishes to close its bargain before it is too late and 1t has little left to offer for the pound of flesh it will demand.
 The military masters under whom Germany is bleeding see very clearly to what point Fate has brought them II LiftF IdIl DdGh UT d1t DdEk an inch, their power both abroad and at home will fall to pieces like house of cards. If they can sc cure peace now with the immense ad yantageS still in their hands which they have up to this point apparent! gained, they will have justified them selves before the German people; the! will have gained by force what the, promised to gain by it: an immense of German power, an i'm mense enlargement of German indus trial and commercial opportunities. Ii | they fail, their people will thrust then aside: a government accountable t' the people themselves will be set ul in Germany as it has been In England | in the United States, in France, ant l in all the great countries of the mod ern time except Germany. If they sue ceed they are safe and Germany an( | the world are undone; if they fail Ger many is saved and the world will be a peace. If they succeed, we and al the rest of the world must remalI | as they will remain, and mus | make ready for the next step of az gression; if they fail, the world may unite for peace, and Germany may be | of the union.
 Seek to Deceive World.
 The present particular aim of the | masters of Germany is to deceive al | those who throughout the world stand i for the rights of peoples and the self government of nations; for they see what immense strength the forces of justice and of liberalism are gathering out of this war
 The sinister intrigue is being no less actively conducted in this country than in Russia and in every country in Flu rope to which the agents and dupes of the imperial German government can get access.
 United States in War for Freedom.
 The great fact that stands out above all the rest is that this is Peoples rar Q war for froadnrn and iustica opd