The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1917-12-10
WHY THE WARi


repeatedly asked for statement OF
this Government aims in the war
against Germany. The declaration
of war against this aggressor was
greeted with the approval OF the Ma
tion. but a clear statement OF the
aims of the United States has not
been forthcoming Ii remained Tor
President Wilson in his address to
Congress Tuesday TO place the issue
directly before the people.
81 believe that / speak for them
when / say two things: First. That
this intolerable Thing OF which the
masters OF Germany have shown us
the ugly face, this menace of COM
bined intrigue and force which we
now see so clearly as the German
power, a Thing without conscience
or honor or capacity for covenanted
peace, must be crushed, and if it be
not utterly brought to an end, at
least shut out from the friendly in
tercourse of nations" In these elo-
quent words the President defines
once and for all the determination
of this Nation to add its last ounce
of strength to overcome forever
Prussian militarism and arrogance,
and thus to guarantee the safety OF
small nations. This has at heart
been the prime motive that has
guided the actions of the United
States, but another reason is given
as proof that the war must still go
on:
Second, that when this Thing and
its power are indeed defeated and
the time comes that we can discuss
peace-when the German people
have spokesmen whose word we can
believe and when those spOkesmen
are ready in the name of their people
10 accept the common judgment of
the nations as to what shall hence
forth be the basis of law and OF COW
enant for the life OF the world-we
shall be willing and glad to pay the
full price for peace and pay il un-
grudgingly." So long as German in
trigue and falseness continue to con-
nive at a unjust peace in favor OF the
continuance of the German dream of
world power and domination, the war
must go on. The clear path of this
Nation is to put its full force into the
war, knowing that world justice and
safety for future generations in this
and other countries cannot come un-
Ill Prussian arrogance and militarism
are crushed
Let it be said again." the Presi-
dent adds, that autocracy must first
be shown the utter futility OF its
claims to power or leadership in the
modern world. 1t is impossible to
apply any standard of justice so long
as such forces are unchecked and un-
defeated as the present masters of
Germany command" In these words
does the chief executive throw down
the gauntlet of democracy, making it
plain that the death struggle between
the rule of the people and autocracy
must now be fought. Germany has
proved that civilization cannot be as
sured of safety under the rule of the
few. The future of democracy is in
the balance and the United States is
in the lists until the end.
What confidence the President
shows in those words: Let there be
no misunderstanding. Our present
and immediate part is to win the war
and nothing shall turn us aside from
it until it is accomplished.
With the leadership of such men,
gifted not only with the vision of the
prophets of old, but with the firm
conviction that they are fighting in
the right, can we doubt that the fu-
ture of democracy and the safety OF
small nations are assured? Years OF
struggle may yet remain, but the
final triumph of right over might Is
inevitable.