The Elbert County tribune., 1917-12-07

guarantee the worlds peace. THAI
partnership must be a partnership ol
peoples, not . mere partnership Of
governments
1t might be impossible, also. in such
untoward circumstances, to admit
Germany to the free economic inter
course which must inevitably spring
out OF the orner partnerships of real
peace But there would be no aggres
sion In that, and such a situation, in
evitable because of distrust, would ir
the very nature of things sooner o.
later cure itself by processes which
would assuredIy set in.
The wrongs, the very deep wrongs
committed in this war will have to be
righted. That, OF course. But they
cannot and must not be righted by the
commission OF similar wrongs against
Germany and her allies.
The world will not permit the com
mission of similar wrongs as a means
of Eeparation and settlement. States
men must by this time have learned
that the opinion of the world is every
where wideawake and fully compre
hends the issues involved. No repre-
sentative or any self-governed nation
will dare disregard it by attempting
any such covenants OF selfishness and
compromise as were entered into the
Congress of Vienna.
The thought of the plain people here
and everywhere throughout the world
the people who enjoy no privilege and
have very simple and unsophisticated
standards of right and wrong. is the
air all governments must henceforth
breathe If they would live. 1t Is in the
full disclosing light of that thought
that all policies must be conceived and
executed in this midday hour of the
worlds life. German rulers have been
able to upset the peace of the world
only because the German people were
not suffered upon their tutelage 10
share the comradeship of the other
peoples of the world either in thought
or in purpose. They were allowed TO
have no opinion of their own which
might be set up as rule of conduct
for those who exercised authority
over them. But the congress that
concludes this war will feel the full
strength of the tides that run now in
the hearts and consciences of free
run with those tides.
Russian People Poisoned by Lies.
All these things have been true from
the very beginning of this stupendous
war. and | cannot help thinking that
If they had been made plain at the
very outset the sympathy and enthus-
iasm of the Russian people might have
been once for all enlisted ON the side
of the allies. suspicion and distrus,
swept away and a real and lasting
union of purpose effected. Had they
believed these things at the very mo-
ment of their revolution and had they
been confirmed In that belief since.
the sad reverses which have recently
marked the progress of their affairs
towards an ordered and stable govern
ment of free men might have been
avoided
The Russian people have been pois-
oned by the very same falsehoods that
have kept the German people in the
dark, and the poison has been admin
istered by the very same hands. The
only possible antidote is the truth. 1t
cannot be uttered too plainly or too
often F
From every point of view. therefore,
it has seemed to be my duty 10 speak
these declarations OF purpose. to add
these specific interpretations to what
| took the liberty of saying to the
Senate in January. Our entrance into
the war has not altered our attitude
towards the settlement that must
come when it is over
When | said in January that the ma
tions of the world were entitled not
only to free pathways upon the sea
but also to assured and unmolested
access to those pathways, was think
ing, and l am thinking now, not oil
the smaller and weaker nations alone
which need our countenance and sup
port but also of the great and power
full nations, and of our present enc
mics as well as our present associ
ates in the war. was thinking. anC
am thinking now, of Austria herself
among the rest, as well as of Serbia
and of Poland. Justice and equalit,
of rights can be had only at a great
price. We are seeking permanent
not temporary, foundations for the
peace of the world and must seel
them candidly and fearlessly As al
ways, the right will prove to be ex
pedient.
Asks Immediate War on Austria.
! What shall we do. then, to push thi.
great war of freedom and justice tt
its righteous conclusion? We mus
clear away with thorough hand al
impediments to success and we mus
make every adjustment of law tina
will facilitate the full and free use O
our whole capacity and force as
fighting unit.
One very embarrassing obstacl,
that stands in our way is that we ar,
at war with Germany but not will
her allies. l, therefore, very earnest
ly recommend that the Congress i'm
mediately declare the United State.
in state of war with Austria-Hun
gary.
Does 1t seem strange to you tha
this should be the conclusion of tn,
argument l have just addressed t,