Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-06

Warrington, Dec. 4.-President Wilson's
snnuaI message to Congress-, delivered
to-day, Is as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress: Eight
months have elapsed since had the
honor Of addressing you. They nave
been months crowded with events OF
immense and grave significance Tor us.
I shall not undertake to detail or even
to summarize these events The practt-
cal particulars of the part we have
played in that time will be laid before
you in the reports Of the executive DEPART
ments. shall discuss only our present
outlook upon these vast AFFAIRS. our pres
emit duties and the immediate means OF
accomplishing the objects we shall hold
always In view.
SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR WAR.
! shall not go back to debate the causes
II the war. The intolerable wrongs done
and planned against us by the sinister
masters Of Germany have long since
become too grossly obvious and odious
10 every true American to need to be
rehearsed. But shall ask YOU to con-
slider again and with very grave
scrutiny our detectives and the measures
by which we mean to attain them; for
the purpose of discussion here in this
place Is action, and our action must
move straight towards definite ends.
Our object is. Of course. to win the
war; and we shall not slacken or suffer
ourselves to be diverted until It is won.
But 1t Is worth while asking and an
swering the question. when shall we con-
slider the war won?
From one point Of view 1t is not neces-
sary to breach this fundamental matter
I do not doubt that the American people
to ntrxsst nd
sort Of an outcome they will regard as a
realization Of their purpose in 1t. AS
nation, we are united In spirit and inten'
ton. I pay little heed to those who
tell me otherwise. hear the voices OF
dissent-who does not?
CRITICISM OF THE THOUGHTLEss
hear the criticism and the clamor OF
the noisily thoughtless and troublesome
I also see men here and there fling them
selves in impotent disloyalty against the
calm, indomitable power Of the nation
hear men debate peace who understand
neither its nature nor the way in which
we may attain 1t with uplifted eyes anc
unbroken spirit. But I know that none
of these speaks for the nation. They Dc
not touch the heart Of anything. The,
may safely be left to strut their uneas!
hour and be forgotten.
But from another point Of view be
lieve that 1t is necessary to say plainl!
what we here at the seat Of action con
slider the war to be for and what par
we mean to play in the settlement Of it
searching issues. We are the spokesmel
Of the American people and they have ,
right to know whether their purpose !
ours. They desire peace by the overcom
ing Of evil, by the defeat once for all o
the sinister forces that interrupt peac
and render it impossible. and they wis
to know how closely our thought run
with theirs and what action we propose
They are impatient with those who de
sire peace by any sort Of compromise
deeply and Indignantly impatient-bu
they will be equally impatient with u
II we do not make 1t plain to them wha
our detectives are and what we are plan
ming for In seeming to make conquest o
peace by arms.
MUST CRUSH GERMAN POWER.
I believe that speak for them when
say two things: First. that this intolel
able thing of which the masters Of Gel
many have shown US the ugly face. thi
menace Of combined intrigue and fore
which we now see 80 clearly as the Gel
man power. A thing without consciene
Or honor or capacity for covenated peae
must be crushed. and II 1t be not utterl
q brought to an end. at least shut out fro
3 the friendly intercourse OF the nation
. and. second, that when this thing and 1
. power are indeed defeated and the tin
comes that we can discuss peace-wh,
.: the German people have spokesman who
word we can believe and when tho
spokesman are ready in the name
their people to accept the common judi
ment OF the nations as to what sha
henceforth be the basis of law and
covenant for the life of the worldly
shall be willing and glad to pay the fl
price for peace, and pay it ungrudgingl
We know what that price will be. 1t W
be full, impartial justice-justice done
:. every point and to every nation that Il
final settlement must affect our enemi
as we'll as our friends.
e NO vINDICT1vENESS.
You catch. with me. the voices Of h
= manity that are in the air. They gro
&. daily more audible, more articulatiy
more persuasive. and they come from Il
hearts Of men everywhere. They insi
that the war shall not end in vindicti
:. action Of any kind; that no nation
- people shall be robbed or punished b
cause the irresponsible rulers of sing
3 country have themselves done deep al
= abominable wrong 1t is this thoug
D, that has been expressed in the formu
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