The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-10-23
PEACE OF COMPLETE VICTORY.
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Copyright. 1917. by tho Kansas City star

(CopyrtGht, 1917, by The Kansas city star.)
TT is stated in press report from Washington that the
Allies wish the United States stop sending men abroad
and its ships for food and munitions instead but that
the administration will agree to the plan and Is de-
terined that there shall be peace until Germany Is
completely beaten II the report is correct the admnstra
tion is absolutely right on both points
As to the first point we can we'll understand In view
OF the steady Uboa campaign how greatly the Allies de-
sire food and munitions and regret with bitter shame
the folly Of government in dawdng and delaying for
six vital months after the German note of January 81 last
before seriously beginning the work Of building big, swift
cargo boats This not alter the fact that for the sake
of our honor and future world usefulness we must
ourselves fight and not merely hire others to fight for
II do not follow this our chdtens heads will
be bowed with humiliation With proper energy we could
already have had hundreds Of thousands Of men in
the firing line and should send troops over as
rapidly possible with the purpose to put at least two
million men against the German lines next year, en-
tirey possible program il the government will lend its
energies with a single mind to the task
As regards the second point every decent citizen should
make the paest and the home Hun realize that agitation
for premature pcace-for peace without victory is
dtous
Shame on every man, and above all on every public
and every leader Of public opinion who endcavos
to weaken the determination Of America to the
through and at all costs overwhelming triumph
for the principles for which contend
II Germany is left unbeaen the western hemisphere will
stand in covering dread of assault by Genanys ruth
less and barbsrous autocracy The liberties of the free
peoples Of the world are at stake.
We must now fight with al! our might on European
soil beside allies else fear the day when we will
have to fight without allies beside burning homes
While this lasts the of allies Is our cause
Their defeat would be defeat Whoever assails them
or defends Germany, is traitor to the United States
There must be negotiated peace Belgium is entitled
to enormous indemnity and France to annexation of
Alsace and Lorraine. BY her marine murders and her
shore raids and her utter treachey and abomnabe cruelty
Germany has made herself the outlaw among nations and
with her should negotiate through the mouths Of our
cannon All who now advocate negotiated peace with
her seeking to betray civilization in he interest Of
brute force and International outrage The United States
owes her entrance into this war almost as much to the
American paeifist to the German mlitarst and now
the former Is meany eager onbe more to the latter
by securing an unjust peace.
Let every brave and patriotic American spurn the bas,
counse Of the proGefmans and pacists and Insist tina
this country, at whatever cost fight seadfastly until thu
war closes with Germanys complete overthrow.