The Raymer enterprise., 1917-04-05

branch OF the government upon which
the responsibility OF conducting the
war and safeguarding the nation will
most directly fall
Would vindieate Principles OF Justice.
While We do these things, these
deeply momentous things, lei Us be
very clear and make very clear TO all
the world what our motives and our
objects are. Ny own thought has
not been driven from its habitual and
normal course by the unhappy events
o. the last two months. and | do not
believe that the thought Of the nation
has been altered or clouded by them.
| have exactly the same things in
mind now that | had in mind when |
addressed the Senate on the 22nd OF
January last; the same that ! had in
mind when | addressed the Congress
on the 3rd Of February and on the 2Gth
OF February.
Our object, now, as then. Is to vim
dlcate the principles OF peace and
justice in the lie OF the world as
against selfish and autocratic power
and TO set up amongst the really free
and self-goyerned peoples of the world
such concert OF purpose and OF ac-
tion as will henceforth insure the OBJ
seryance of these principles.
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
backed by organized force which is
controlled wholly by their will, not by
the will OF their people. We have
seen the last Of neutrality in such
circumstances.
Quarrel with Government, Not People.
We are at the beginning OF an age
In which ii will be insisted that the
same standards OF conduct and OF re.
sponsibility for wrong done shall be
observed among nations and the gov.
ernmentg that are observed among
the individual citizens of civilized
states.
We have no quarrel with the Ger
man people. We have no feeling
toward them but one of sympathy and
friendship. 1t was not upon their i'm.
pulse that their government acted In
entering this war. 1t was not with
their previous knowledge or approval.
II was war, determined upon as
wars used to be determined on in
the old unhappy days when peoples
were nowhere consulted by their
rulers and wars were provoked and
waged In the interest of dynasties
or of little groups of ambitious men
who were accustomed TO use their
fellow men as pawns and tools.
Self.goyerned nations do not fill
their neighbor states with spies or
set the course OF intrigue to bring
about some critical posture OF affairs
which will give them an opportunity
to strike and make conquest. Such
designs can be successfully worked
only under cover, and where no one
has the right to ask questions.
Cunningly contriyed plans OF decep-
tion or aggression. carried, 1t may
be from generation to generation, can
be worked out and kept from the
light only within the privacy OF
courts or behind the carefully guard.
ed condolences OF a narrow and pri.
illeged class. They are happily i'm.
possible where public opinion com.
mands and insists upon full infor.
nation concerning all the nations
affairs
Sees New Hope In Russian Revolt,
A steadfast concert for peace can
never be maintained except By a part.
nership OF democratic nations. No
autocratic government could be
trusted to keep faith within II or OBJ.
serve its covenants. II must be
league OF honor. a partnership OF
opinion.
Intrigue would eat its vitals away:
the plottings Of inner circles who |
could plan what they would and ren.
der account 10 no one Woul be a |
corruption seated at its very heart /
Only free peoples can hold their pur.
pose and their honor steady to
common end 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
Tor 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 1t best to have been always In 4
TACT democratic at heart. in all the
vital habits of her thonght, in all the
intimate relationships OF her people /
that spoke their natural instinct, their /
habitual attitude towards life.
The autocraey that crowned the \
summit OF her political structure, long
as II had stood and terrible as was 4
the reality OF its power, was not in /
tact Russian in origin, character or j
purpose and now it has been shaken /
OH ana the great, generous Russian
people have been added in all their /
native majesty and might to the forces |
that are fighting for freedom in the \
world, Tor justice and for peace. Here
Is NJ partner for league OF honor.
Plots Aimed at Unity Of America.
One of the things that has served
10 convince us that the Prussian au. I
tocracy was not and could never be 1
our friend is that from the very out. |
set OF the present war Ii has filled
our unsuspecting communities and
even our offices of government with |