The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-16

German people the form Of govern
ment under which they choose to live.
That Is a matter entirely for them
selves. but II is right we should say
We could enter into negotiations with
a free government In Germany with
n different attitude of mind, a differ
cnt temper. a different spirit. with less
suspicion. with more confidence than
we could with government whom
we knew TO be dominated by the ag-
cressive and arrogant spirit of Prus-
sian militarism And the allied gov
erments would in my Judgment. be
acting wisely II they drew that dis
tinction in their general attitude In
discussion of the terms of peace. The
fatal error committed by Prussia in
1S70-the error which undoubtedly
proves her bad faith at that time
was that when she entered the war
she was fighting against restless
military empire, dominated largely by
military ideals. with military tradi-
tions behind them. When that en-
pire fell it would have been wisdom
of Germany to recognize the change
immediately Democratic France
was a more sure guarantee for the
case of Germany than the fortress of
! Metz or the walled ramparts Of Stras-
4 burg If Prussia had taken that view
/ European history would have taken
/ a different course. 1t would have acted
/ on the generous spirit of the great
/ people who dwell in France. 1t would
! have reacted on the spirit and policy
! of Germany herself. Europe would
/ have reaped a harvest of peace and
| goodwill amongst men instead of gar
! nering, as she does now, whirlwind
of hate rage. and human savagery.
| ] trust that the allied governments
! Will take that as an element In their
i whole discussion of the terms and
prospects of peace.
| I have one thing to say in conclu-
sion. In pursuing this conflict we must
| think not merely of the present but
| of the future of the world. We are
| settling questions which will affect
! the lives of people not merely In this
generation but for countless genera
| tons to come In France last year I
/ went along the French front, and I
met one OF the finest generals In the
French army, General Gouroud, and
, he said. lone OF my soldiers a few
! days ago did one OF the most gallant
and daring things any soldier has ever
| done. II was reckless. but he manag-
ed to come back alive. and someone
j said to him, Why did you do that?
[ cu nave Spl lpuI tIlIuiHiit ana you
might have left It to one of the young
/ fellows in the army, What would have
! happened to your children p And his
answer was, 1T was for them I did
1t -"
| Liberty. Equality. Fraternity.
This war involves issues upon
( which will depend the lives of our
| children and our children's children.
/ Sometimes in the course Of human
/ events challenges are hurled from
4 the unknown amongst the sons and
| daughters of men. Upon the answer
( which is given to these challenges.
! and upon the heroism with which the
| answer is sustained. depends the
/ question whether the world would be
better or whether the world would he
worse for ages to come. These chal-
/ lenges end in terrible conflicts which
bring wretchedness misery, blood
shed, martyrdom in all its myriad
/ forms to the world and II you look
at the pages Of history these conflicts
! stand out like great mountain ranges,
such as you have in Scotland-scenes
of destruction. of vast conflicts. scar
red by the volcanoes which threw
them up and drawing blessings from
the heavens that fertilize the valleys
! and the plains perennially far be
{ SOnd the horizon or the highest
peaks. You had such conflict in
Scotland TN the sixteenth and seven
teenth centuries of the great fight for
for The rights of men to worship God
according to their consciences The
/ Scottish Covenanters might have Civ
! en- this answer to the challenge They
might have said, Let there be peace
In our time. Lord" They might
have said. why should We suffer for
privileges that even our fathers never
! enjoyed? If we win we may never
live TO enjoy the fruits OF 1t. but we
have got to face privations. unspeak-
able torture, the destruction of our
Z homes the! scattering OF oar families,
4 shameless death! Bet there be peace
Scotland would have been a thing of
nc account among the nations Its
mis- would have bowed their heads
IN shame for the people they shelter
ca. But the answer of the old Scot
tisn Covenanter, the old dying Coven-
ahter Carglil rings down the ages.
even TO US at this Hateful hour. Sat
isiE your conscience, and go forward"