The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-29
MUST acIATE PEACE.
NO COMPROMISE WITH GERMANY
CAN BE CONSIDERED BY
AMERICA.
Former President Taft Declares Peace
OH the Basis OF Restoration of the
Status Quo Would be Victory for
Germany and be the Beginning of
Preparedness for Another World
War Instead OF u Permanent Peace.

iaVor permanent world peace must
oppose with might and main the pro-
posals for peace at this juncture in
the war whether made in socialistic
councils, in pro-German conferences,
or by Pope Benedict" declared Will
liam Fl. Taft, president OF the League
to Enforce Peace, in an address h;
delivered here tonight before the
General Conference of Unitarian and
Other Christian Churches.
America and her allies cannot
peace until they conquer it,"
ne said. when they do so it will be
permanent. Otherwise they fail"
Peace now," continued Mr.. Taft
"even though it be made on the ba-
sis of the restoration of the status
quo,' without indemnities and with.
out invasions,' would be a failure to
achieve the great purpose for which
the Allies have made heart-rend-
ing sacrifices. Armaments would
continue for the next war and this
war would have been fought in vain.
The millions OF lives lost and the
hundreds Of billions worth of the
product of mems labor would be
wasted. He who proposes peace now.
therefore, either does not see the
stake for which the Alnlies are fight
ing, or wishes the German military
autocracy still to control the desti
nies of all of us as to peace or war.
"Thc Allies are fighting for a prin-
ciple. the maintenance Of which af-
fccts the future of civilization. II
they do not achieve it, they have
sacrificed the flower of their youth
and mortgaged their future for a cen
tury. and all for nothing.
"The vortex Of death and destruc.
tion for the peoples of the world
which the breaking out of the war
reused these peace lovers
and promoters to devise plan 70,
avoiding war after this should end"
said Mr.. Taft He then described tho
organization and purpose of the
League to Enforce Peace in the Unit
ed States and of the League of Ma
tions society in England and added
Whatever the detailed stipula-
ms of such a League, however. it,
operation and success must depend
upon the obligations of treaty stipu
latiOns. Unless their binding effec,
is recognized by the nations as a sac
red principle. the stipulations of the
League will be writ in water Th,
and disclosures of this
war satisfy the members of the
League that as long as the present
military caste controls the German
and foreign policy, thc
League is impracticable, and would
rot be worth the parchment on which
it's obligations would be recorded.
Intrigue. dishonor, cruelty, have
characterized the entire military pol
icy of Germany. And now her En-
peror, her present military caste and
her wonderful but blinded peopla
have the blood of the millions who
have suffered in this world catas-
;rophe on their hands. 1t is not that
the nature Of the German people gen
orally is cruel-that is not the case.
But the minds Of the German people
have been poisoned with this false
philosophy.
president Wilson," the speaker
says the Allies are fight
ing to make the world safe for de-
mocracy. Some misconceptiOn has
teen created on this head. The Allies
are not struggling to force q particu-
lar form of government on Germany
If the German people continue to
wish an emperor. it is not the pur-
pose of the Allies to require them to
have q republic. Their purpose is to
end the military policy and foreign
policy of Germany that looks to the
of q military and naval
machine with it's hair trigger prep
1ratiOn for use against her neighbors.
Men who sec cleal,y the kind OF
peace which we must have in order
tG be real and lasting peace, can
have no sympathy therefore. with n
peace, one made at n
council table. the result of diplo-
matte chafcring and bargaining.
Men who look forward to n League
Of the World to Enforce Peace in the
future can have no patience with 4
compromise that leaves the promot-
ing cause Of the present awful war
,Innffected and lnmOyed This yylr iS