The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-12-15
Presidents Message Declaring
America IN War to Finisa
Hailed With Joy
ADDS AUSTRIA TO OUR FOES
Progress Of Russia's Efforts for Ar
mistiee-Gernans Sacrifice Men
Hecidessiy in Furious Attacks
in France and Italy,
American Troops to
Be Rushed Across.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.

The United States is Ia the war to
the fnish-aRd that finish must be the
overthrow of the Prussian military
despOtisn, the liberation and restora-
ton Of the peoples it has enslaved
and reparation for the material dam
age It's armies have done When this
is assured, the United States viii in
sist On q peace that Is based on gen
erosity and justice to all alike, ex-
GLIDING all selfish Claims to advantage
even on the part Of the vtctoss. Mean
while Austria Hungary must - form
ally declared votf zoe IN tf5 war, tSnds
"our present and Immediate task" is
TO win that war.
Such in q few words Is the message
Of President Wilson to congress, to
America, and especially to the world.
He leaves no doubt Of the govern
ments and the nations humanitarian
aims, and he makes equally plain the
determination never to make peace
with the present rulers Of Germany
who have dOae such deep and abom-
Unable wrong" The president ex-
pressly disaygws any intention to i'm
pair or rearraRge the ARstro- Hunga-
| Tfan empire but says that To the
Austro-HungariaR should be restored
independent control Of their own af-
fairs. and ayers that the Balkan states
and Turkey should be secured against
foreign oppression or injustice. Mr..
Wilson's polished dictioa does not con
ceal his contempt for the paciAsts, the
traitors aRd others who seek to ham
per the nation In the prosecution of
the war. When everyone else within
sound Of his voice arose and eheered
the presidents impassianed statements,
Senator La Toilette, Representative
Mason and ens or two more sulked 81
lent In their seats They are easily
classified.
Message Warmly Approved.
Instant approval Of the message was
general throughout the United States,
and # received the hearty endorse
nent Of the British and South Ameri-
csn press, though some of the Londen
papers, notably the Times, are skep-
teal about the distinction the presi-
| dent stfll makes between the German
rulers and the German people 1t must
be confessed a great many Americans
also feel the German people are not
SO guiltess as Mr.. Wilson represents
! them.
Congress Lost little time IN starting
proceedings for formal declaration of
war against Austro-Hungary and gov
eminent agents throughout the coun-
try at once began preparing to handle
the million and a half enemy aliens
which 1t adds TO the list. As tens of
thousands Of Austro-Hungarians have
been employed in the mines Of Amer
lea, there LIS danger of a serious short
age Of niue labor. It Is likely a good
deal Of discrimination will be used in
dealing with such subjects Of the dual
monarchy, as the Bohemians and vsri-
GUS Slavic races, who have no SYM
pathy with the autocracy Of their
rulers.
BolshsTki Peace Efforts.
The efforts Of the Russian bolshe-
Hd TO bring about general cessation
Of fighting was not markedly success
ful last week Large numbers Of Rus
sian troops we're withdrawn from the
front lines, and Austro-Hungary for
mally approved Of the arnistice plan ),
but when the representatives Of
the Russians began discussion OF de-
tails with the Germans they met with
q quick check Their first two stipu-
IAhOns were that the enemy should
not undertake &C send forces from
the Russian front to the front OF Rus
aa's allies, ana that the German de-
tschments should be Withdrawn from
-