The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-06-23

could be overwhelmed by force, as
their natural tools and instruments of
domination. Their purpose has long
been avOwed.
The demands made by Austria upon
Serbia were mere single step in a
plan which compassed Europe and
Asia, from Berlin to Bagdad. They
hoped those demands might not arouse
Europe, but they meant to press them
whether they did or not, for they
thOught themselves ready for the final
issue Of arms.
Vast Empire Planned.
Their plan was to throw broad belt
of German military power and political
control across the very center Of Eu-
rope and beyond the Mediterranean in
to the heart of Asia and Austria-Hun-
gary was to be. as much their tool and
pawn as Serbia or Bulgaria or Turkey
or the ponderous states of the East.
The dream had its heart at Berlin. 1t
could have had a heart nowhere else !.
1t rejected the idea Of solidarity Of
race entirely. The choice of peoples
played no part in II at all. They ar
IDENTIFY desired to direct their own af-
fairs. would be satisfied only by undis-
puted independence. They could be
kept quiet only by the presence or the
constant threat of armed men. The
German military statesmen had reck-
Oned with all that and were ready to
deal with II In their own way.
And they have actually carried the
| greater part of that amazing plan into
| execution! Look how things stand.
Austria is at their mercy. 1t has acted,
not upon its own initiative or upon the
choice of its own people. but at Ber-
Inns dictatiOn ever since the war be-
gan. Its people now desire peace, but
cannot have II until leave Is granted
from Berlin. The so-called central
powers are in fact but single power
Serbia Is at its mercy, should its hands
be but for moment freed. From
Hamburg to the Persian gulf the mel
Is spread.
Why Berlin Seeks Peace.
Is II not easy to understand the eag
erness for peace that has been mani
tested from Berlin ever since the snare
was set and sprung? Peace. peace
peace has been the talk Of her foreign
office for now year and more; moi
peace upon her own initiative, but up
on the initiative of the nations ovel
which she now deems herself to holC
the advantage. Through all sorts ol
channels Il has come to me, and in al
sorts of guises, hut never with the
terms disclosed which the German gov
ernment would he willing to accept
That government still holds valuable
part of France. though with slowly re
laxing grasp. and practically the whole
of Belgium. 1t cannot 90 further; Il
dare not 60 back. II wishes TO cles'
its bargain before it is too late and Il
has little left to offer for the pound Of
flesh il will demand.
The military masters under whom
Germany is bleeding see very clearl,
to what point Fate has brought them
If they fall back or are forced baci
an inch. their power both abroad AM
at home will fall to pieces like ,
house of cards. IF they can Sc
cure peace now with the immense ad
vantages still in their hands whicl
they have up to this point APPARENT.
gained, they will have justified them
selves before the German people; the,
will have gained by force what the
promised to gain by it: an immens
expansion of German power, an iIr
mense enlargement of German indus
trial and commercial opportunities.
they fail. their people will thrust ther
aside: government accountable I
the people themselves will be set u
I'm Germany as ii has been I'm England
: in the United States. in France. an
in all the great countries of the moo
: ern time except Germany. II they SUI
ceed they are safe and Germany an
the world are undone If they fail Ge
: many is saved and the world will be
peace. If they succeed, we and a
the rest of the world must remei
armed. as they will remain. and ma!
make ready for the next step OF al
: gression; If they fail. the world ma
: unite for peace, and Germany may .
of the union.
Seek to Deceive World.
The present particular aim OF II
: masters of Germany is to deceive
5 those who throughout the world stan
T for the rights of peoples and the sci
r government of nations; for they 81
D what immense strength the forces
I Justice and of liberalism are gatherir
out of this war.
b The sinister intrigue is being no le
] actively conducted in this country tha
s i'm Russia and in every country in +
e rope TO which the agents and dupes
r the imperial German government ca
get access.
United States in War for Freedom.
:. The great fact that stands out abo
v all the rest is that this is People
t war. a war for freedom and justice al
= self-government amongst all the n
!. tiCns of the world. war TO make 4
s world safe for the peoples who live
g II and have made il their own, Z
l. German people themselves includes
!. and that with us rests the choice
S break through all these hypocrisies al