The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-04

and force which we now see so clearly
as the German power, thing without
| conscience or honor or capacity for
covenanted peace. must be crushed; and
| if it be not utterly brought to an end
at least shut out from the friendly in.
| tercourse of the nations; and, second
that when this thing and its power are
| indeed defeated and the time comes
| that we can discuss peace-when the
German people have spokesmen whose
| word we can believe, and when those
| spokesmen are ready in the name of
| their people to accept the common
| judgment of the nations a sto what
shall henceforth be the bases of law
and of covenant for the life of the
world-we shall be willing and glad
to pay the full price for peace and pay
it ungrudgingly we know what the
price will be. 1t will be full, impartial
| justice-justice done at every point and
to every nation the final settlement
must affect our enemies as well as our
| friends.
No Vindictive Acts.
you catch, with me, the voices of
humanity that the in the air. They
grow daily more audible. more articu-
late, more persuasive and they come
from the hearts of men everywhere.
They insist that the war shall not end
in vindictive action of any kind; that
no nation or people shall be robbed or
punished because the irresponsible rul-
ers of a single country have themselves
done deep and abominaDle wrong. 1t
is this thought that has been expressed
i'm the formula No ennexations no
contributions. no punitive indemnities.'
German Intrigue Doomed.
Just because this crusade formula
expresses the instructive judgment as
to right of plain men everywhere it has
been made diligent use of by the mas
ters of German intrigue to lead the
people of Russia astray, also the people
of every other country their agents
could reach in order that premature
peace might be brought about before
autocracy has been taught its final and
convincing lesson and the people of the
world put in control of their own des-
TIMES.
"But the fact that a wrong use has
been made of a just idea is no reason
why a right use sould not be made of it.
1t ought to be brought under the pat
ronage of its real friends. Let il be
said again that autocracy must first
be shown the utter futility of its claims
to power or leadership in the modern
world.
1T is impossible TO apply any stand
ard of justice so long as such forces
are unchecked and undefeated as the
present masters Of Germany command.
Not until that has been done can
RIGHT be set up as arbiter and peace
maker among the nations. But when
that has been done-as, God willing il
assuredly will be-we shall at last be
free TO do an Unprecedented thing; and
this is the time to avow our purpose to
do il. We shall be free to base peace
on generosity and justice. to the exclu-
sion of all selfish claims TO advantage
even on the part of the victors.
Must BE No misunderstanding.
Let there be no misunderstanding
Our present and immediate part is to
win the war. and nothing shall turn
us aside from it until il is accomplish
ed.
Every power and resource we pos
sess. whether of men. of money. or of
is being devoted and will con-
Iinue to be devoted to that purpose
until IL is achieved. Those who desire |
10 bring peace about before that pur- |
pose is achieved. counsel to carry their |
advice elsewhere. We will not enter |
ain IL.
I'VE shall regard the war as won
'nly when the German people say to |