Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-17

wa, Iowa, under the ACT OF ConsIeoo "
March 3. 1879.
FOREIGN representatives: Cone, Lor-
ersxen q woodman, Advertising Slos.,
Chicago; 225 Fifth Ave, New YORK
City; sos Victor Bldg. Kansas CITY
Mo.
THE PoPE's PEACE PLAN.
There is remarkable simlarity pe.
tween the peace proposal maze Wy
Pope Benedict and that which Cnancel'
/ lor Michaelis indicated recently as ac,
ceptable to Germany 1t is 80 maj h : y
a likeness, indeed, that there can pe
no question Of the attitude the govern
ments opposing Germany must take
with regard to its acceptance.
In brief, the pope's suggestion IS ioi
A resumption of the conditions that e1-
isted before the war He proposes res
!, toration of Belgium, Serbia and Ru-
mania. a return Of territory which mas
been seized by the various warrlns
movers: peaceful settlement by agree-
ment OF the problems OF Alsace-hol.
rajne and the Austro-Italian provinces
and freedom for Poland.
Ne onposes the exaction OF 1naem-
n,tv on the grounds that all the nations
N the war have suffered to an extent
nat brings them to the border OF &C
He opposes economic alliances OF
,.nsive or defensive, after the war ne
rronoses reduction of armament ahu
freedom Of the seas. 1000
Ths fatal weakness OF any peace
n,an vhich must be made with the
rresent government Of Germany hes III
nc obvious fact that the kaiser can
NJ he trusted to abide by any agree
n.art oral or written. He and his gov
.-rmant have forfeited the confdence
End resnect Of the rest of the world
and no nation ilnpelled by sounu nv. se &C,
win enter into an agreement wiz. -
many while Germany's preseh' %
Of government EXISTS. sow,
Treaties derive their strength RON
the honor and integrity OF tnelr SUI
scribers. They can have no iolce VI
| less honor and integrity exist on oos..
sides, Because that IL true s"Vasss
mnst be conquered by arms: tney
know nothing Of diplomacy. Muroer-
/. az. .hurslars and other criminals mus. !.
- imnrir,ned to insure the safety OF
.cciety: the most advanced laeaIis.
80 rr,son refor1ner never has suggest
"a inst instead Of punishment ror ma
sor crfree. the government obtain a
yr,.+an nronise from the criminal 10
! -afrain from repetition Of his onenses
7 .rd from the commission OF new ones.
' The situation in the world. with the
prr.sian autocracy as one OF the ma
..en. 1. parallel with the CONDITION
eh.t vouyd exist in local community
- law abiding citizens should one OF
NAV, turn murderer. set all the stat.
j ,tes at naught and become possessed
- an arcess Of strength matching II
mt surpassing the combined strength
Of his fellows.
M outlaw can be trusted, and Ger
I ..,x 4. the supreme outlaw In the his
tory Of the universe.
Conclusion Of peace on any terms
which do not include reinforcement OF
the kaiser and dissolution OF his gov
eminent would be victory for him
And defeat not only for the nations OPP
nosed to him but for civilization.
II Ia az idle to talk Of disarmament
vhile the kaiser's rule survives as to
tank Of leaving all homes unlocked and
money drawers open and unguarded
while thievery continues to be prac-
ticed.
II is dificult to understand how such
. nroposal can come from Rome in the
face Of the testimony Of Cardinal Mer.
cher as to the despoiling of Belgium.
and the explanation probably Is that
9he pont1fY, believing In the inherent
humanity and honesty OF all men and
oharitabfy inclined to credit fulsome
rrumises the kaiser may have made
through diplomatic channels. is willing
n erant the greatest criminal Of all
time An opportunity to atone for his
sins by means OF transformation
from beast into human being again.
But the kaiser cannot change his
nature. Miracles do not happen now
adays, nor can man put on or take
on . conscience like coat. The
kaiser never can win back the esteem
which the world accorded him only a
few years ago and which he forfeited
deliberately in mad effort to conquer
the universe.
Peace can come only when his mail
"A f9st Il paralyzed, when his symbols
az mower are cast into the discard
along with those Of Nicholas and Con.
stantfne, when he has lost the power to
plunge the world again into whirl-
nool Of war-when his autocracy is
crushed and democracy reigns In its
stead.
Meanwhile civilization must battle
with an the strength that desperation
lends. for its own existence and for the
world peace that is possible only with
complete victory.
oTrUMWA IN THE WAR.
Ottumwa's soldiers are to go to
Europe in the first rank of the great
civilian fighting force which became a
part Of the United States army by