The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-04-06

ond or January last; the same tnaJ ]
mad in mind when I addressed the
congress on the third of February and
on the 26th OF February.
American object.
"Our object now as then, is to win.
dicate the principle of peace ard
justice in the life of the world az
against the selfish and autocratic
powers and to set up amongst the
really free and self-soverned peoples
Of the world such concert OF pur.
pose and of action as will henceforth
ensure the observance of those prln-
ciples.
Neutrality is no longer feasible or
desirable where the peace of the
world is involved and the freedom Of
its peoples, and the menace to that
peace and freedom lies in the exist.
ence of autocratic governments back
ed by organized force which is con-
trolled wholly by their will, not
by the will Of their people. We
nave seen the last of neutrality In
such circumstances.
we nave IlO el Will Juo IrGI"
man people. We have no feeling to.
wards them, but one OF sympathy and
friendship. II was not upon their i'm
pulse that their governments acted
in entering this war. 1t was not with
their previous knowledge or approval.
1t was war determined upon as
wars used to be determined upon In
the old. unhappy days when peoples
were nowhere consulted by their rul-
ers and wars were provoked and
waged in the interest Of dynasties or
OF little groups Of ambitious men wdo
were accustomed to use their fellow
men as pawns and tools. Sef-govern-
ed nations do not fill their neighbor
states with spies or set the course
of intrigue to bring about some crit
ical posture of affairs which will give
them an opportunity to strike and
make conquest. Such designs can be
successfully worked out only under
cover and where no one has the right
to ask questions. Cunningly contriyed
plans Of deception or aggression, car
ried may be, from generation to gen.
Grafton, can be worked out and kept
from the light only within the privacy
of courts OF behind the carefully
guarded condolences of a narrow and
privileged class. They are happily
impossible where public opinion com.
mands and insists upon full informa.
tion concerning all the nations az.
fairs.
Attacks Autocracy.
"A steadfast concert for peace can
never be maintained except by part
nership of democratic nations. No
autocratic government could be trust
ed to keep faith within it or observe
it's covenants II must be a league of
honor, a partnership of opinion. In
trigue would eat it's vitals away; the
plottings Of inner circles who could
plan what they would and render ac.
count to no one would ne a corruption
seated at it's very heart. Only fres
peoples can hold their purpose aud
their honor steady to a common eLd
and prefer the interests OF mankind
to any narrow interest Of their own.
Does not every American feel that
assurance has been added to our hope
for the future peace of the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
last few weeks in Russia? Russia
was known by those who knew it best
to have been always democratic at
heart, in all the vital habits of her
thought, in all the intimate relation
ships of her people that spoke their
natural instinct, their habitIal att.
tude towards life. The autocracy
litlcal structure, long as it had stood
and terrible as was the reality of its
power, was not In fact Russian In orr.
gin, character. or purpose, and 1t now
has been shaken off and the great,
generous Russian people have been
added in all their naive majesty and
might TO the forces that are lighting
FOR freedom In the world, for justice
and for peace. Here Is fit partner
for league OF honor.
One o. the things that has served
TO convince us that the Prussian au.
! tocracy was not and could not be our
! friend is that from the very outset of
the present war 1t has filled our un
buspecting communities and even our
offices VI government with spies, anS
set criminal intrigues everywhere
afoot against our national unity o.
counsel. our peace within and with
out. our Industries and our commerce
Prussian Enmity Shown.
Even in checking these things an,
trying to extirpate them We haN'
sought to put the most generous inter
pretation possible upon them, becaus
we know that their source lay not il
any hostile feeling or purpose OF tn
German people towards us (whc wer
no doubt as ignorant of tnem as W
ourselves were), hut only in the sell
ssh designs OF q government that di
what IL pleased and told its peopl
nothing. But they have played thei
part In serving to convince us at las
that the government entertains N
real friendship for us. and means t