Evening journal., 1917-12-14

The Bolshcyih not alone of Russia
hut OF The world viii End illumination
in the terms which The Germans have
now proposed for 0nal peace on the
East front Shouting their battle cry
" "NO annexations and no indemni-
ties Lenine, Trolzkv and the rest Of
their tribe have destroyed the mill
tary organization OF Russia. have
brought the great empire TO the posi-
tion of absolute impotence and now
they have the answer from the enemy.
Stripped Of all unnecessary Nerbiage,
Germany proposes that Russia shall
surrender some 10000 square miles OF
her territory, holding a population or
between twenty and thirty millions;
that she shall give Germany complete
control OF her wheat supplies for
term of years and that she shall adj
NIT German manufactures free Of duty
hencef0rlh in the Russian Empire. A
far less humiliating proposal made by
Austria Go serbia in July, 1914, preci-
pltated the world war. The Bolsheyiki
have their answer.
Those Utoplans in the rest Of the
world who are seeking to destroy the
fundamental unity of the Allies by TO-
mcntine- discussion of peace terms may
well reflect upon the Russian situa-
ti0n. N they had their way and could
produce a quarrel between France and
ENGLAND over Frances just claims TO
Asacc-Lorraine: If they had their way
and could produce a break between
Italy and the other Allies over ltaly's
claims 10 Trieste and The Trentino,
we might expect, FIRST, the dissolution
of the alliance against Germany and,
second. "a pronunciation Of further Ger
man terms which would include con-
quered Belgium. occupied France,
Northern Italy and the Balkan con-
quests. There is no reason To sus-
pect that Germany would deal more
tenderly with the disorganzed Allies on
the West than she has with the Boil
sheviki in the East.
Bethmann-Hollwey long ago an
nounced that Germany would make
peace as q victor and on the basis OF
the war map. Russia now having asked
for "a separate peace, Germany has Of
fered her peace on the basis OF the
war map plus industrial and economic
suhordination lo Germany. The re-
dictionary elements Which control Ger
many seek now only TO procure in the
West the same dsOrganizatiOn which
they have procured i'm the East to CON
sOlidale the gains OF their armies and
10 complete the construction Of that
Central Empire which is TO dominate
Europe and the world.
Is 10 too much TO hope that some
portion of the folly Of the cracked
brains. the ignorant and the visionary
will be abolished by the hard facts
of Germany's peace proposals in the
East? Is il too much TO hope that
those who are now pattering about a
revision Of the Allied peace terms viii
hold their discussion until such time
as 10 seems possible tlht the Allies can
attain any peace terms that do not
mean slavery and destruction OF the
Western nations? Germany mas USED
the idealism of Russia 10 destroy Rus
sian eudeavOr, TO undermine Russian
powers of resistance, and having
achieved those ends she has thrust
aside the mask and demands the eX-
treme OF possible profit In the terri
tory that She has conquered and ~
addition economic supremacy hence
forth in the Slay states.
10 seems almost incredible that aftel
three wears of warfare Of the mos
| terrible struggle that human history
records, after years in which German
armies have outraged every TRADITION
of humanity, every fundamental de'
ccncy every treaty, deiied every con.
venlion, there should still be IN al
the countries lighting for their live.
those whose attention remains liked nol
upon the firing lines of the enemy bul
upon utopian dreams which were SHAT
tered on that day when the first gray-
clad soldiers of tho Kaiser crossed thC
Belgian frontier. It seems unbelievable
now that the fate of France and ltall
is i'm the balance, when German shells
are still falling upon Rheims Cathe
dral. and Venice may be the next vic
tim of Teutonic kultur, that Their
should be solemn discussion on al
sides as 10 the legitimate or illegiti
mate war aims of those whose com
hined effort alone can save mankin
from a return TO that darkness induce
/ by other Germanic invaslons, which
/ thousand wears of progress nave ohl
partially dissipated.
Tbe answer 10 an the foolish chatte
of the Bolsheyik, Russian and Amer
| lean. Is found in the peace terms 4
me Germans. "What we have con
ouered we will keep. If you do nc
wish our armies in Petrograd and Mos
COW sell the future OF your countr
as "a ransom" These are The Germa
terms TO Russia. This is The answt
TO am the amazing flood of madne'
and idealisn, of folly and henevolenc
which has swept Russia. This IS in
answer that the German has maae oN'
long years Go every suggestion OF ped'
and amity in the world.
We are facing the nnal struggle
civilization against barbarsm. Ever
dav and every hour the German r.
veals himself to us 2s the essentil
barbarian that he is and has bee
throughout his history. From LouNal
10 the last murder of American el
eincers before Cambria the Germa
method has rung true and yet IN tn
hour OF supreme test mnumerab