The Elbert County tribune., 1917-06-15

lberality and justice of purpose, but
only to preserve the power they have
set up in Germany and the selfish ad-
vantages which they have wrongly
gained for themselves and their pri-
vate projects of power. all the way
from Berlin TO Bagdad and beyond.
Government after government has, by
their influence. without open conquest
of its territory, been linked together
in net of intrigue directed against
nothing less than the peace and lib
erty of the world.
THE meshes of that Intrigue must
be broken. but cannot be broken un-
less wrongs already done are undone;
and adequate measures must be taken
to prevent it from ever again being
rewoven or repaired. OF course the
imperial German government and
those whom it is using for their own
undoing are seeking to obtain pledges
that the war will end in the restora-
ton or the status quo ante. 1t was
the status quo ante out of which this
iniquitous war issues forth, the power
of the imperial German government
within the empire and its widespread
domination and influence outside of
that empire. That status must be al
tered in such fashion as to prevent
any such hideous thing from ever
happening again.
We are fighting for the liberty. the
self-government and the indicated
development of all peoples. and every
feature OF the settlement that con-
cludes the war must be conceived and
executed for that purpose. Wrongs
must first be righted, and then ade-
quate safeguards must be created to
prevent their being committed again.
We ought not to consider remedies
merely because they have pleasing
and sonorous sound. Practical ques-
tions can be settled only by practical
means. Phrases Will not achieve the
result Effective readjustments will,
and whatever readjustments are nee
essary must be made.
But they must follow a principle
and that principle is plain. No peo-
pie must be forced under sovereignty
under which it does not wish to live.
No territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit it fair chance of life and
liberty.
No indemnities must be insisted on
except those that constitute payment
for manifest wrongs done. No read
justment of power must be made ex-
cept such as Will tend to secure the
future peace of the world and the fu-
ture welfare and happiness of its peo-
pies.
Free Peoples Must Combine.
And then the free peoples of the
world must draw together in some
common covenant, some genuine and
practical cooperation that will in eff
feet combine their force to secure
peace and justice in the dealings of
nations with one another The broth
erhood Of mankind must no longer be
a fair but empty phrase; 1t must be
given structure of force and reality
THE nations must realize their com
mon life and effect workable part
nership to secure that life against the
aggressions of autocratic and self
pleasing power.
Time to Submit or Conquer.
For these things we can afford to
pour out blood and treasure For these
are the things we have always pro
fessed to desire, and unless we pour
out blood and treasure now and sue.
ceed we may never be able to unite
or show conquering force again in the
great cause of human liberty. The
day has come to conquer or submit II
the forces of autocracy can divide us
they will overcome us; If we stand to.
gether. victory is certain and the lib
erty which victory will secure. We
can afford then to be generous, but
we cannot afford then or now to be
weak or omit any single guarantee OF
Justice and security"