The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-01
spokEsllI Of DEMoeRAcY.
PRESIDENT WILSON CHOSEN 10
TELL THE WORLD THE VIEWS
OF ALLIES.
Recognized as the Worlds Greatest
Ststesman In the Greatest Epoch
Of Tn, Ases He Is Called Upon to
Speak for the People.

Warrington, Aug. 28.-President
Wilson's rejection Of the pope's
peace proposals is regarded here as
the high water mark Of the war. Fur
therfhofs 1t is indicative of the virtual
selectiola Of the president by the al
lies ~ their spokesman before the
world.
The hote comes as climax to
the remarkable series of state docu-
ments In which President Wilson has
argued the cause Of world democracy
against aut0cracy in the high court
Of public opinion and accepted more
and more BY the people Of all the al
lied countries as expressing their
ideals.
There appears to be no doubt that
the United States was selected to
make answer before the world, in a
service Of all the others Whether
the entente nations will send extensive
replies h not known here. It is re-
gnrdsd as probable that they will in
large measure adopt the presidents
reasoning for their own and send notes
Of Endorsement. {.
The general tenor Of the presidents
reply has been anticipated every
whore but there was no inkling of
the forceful terms he would employ
70 say that the world can have no
faith In the autocratic government of
Germany. Students Of diplomacy see
In his denunciation Of the military
autocracy = fresh appeal to the war;
ridden German people to throw off
their military masters and join de-
n1ocracy with q government fit to
deal with the remainder Of the world
Although this appeal probably will
not bs permitted to become known
In Germany until the autocracy has
attempted 60 mold the temper Of the
people for its reception by a denun-
citation through government-con-
trolled press Of what has been char
acterized a. interference in the In
tsrnai affairs Of Germany. the hope
u It win fall on fertile soil.
} Considering the extraordinary
character OF the presidents commu-
nication. IT. immense Importance def
uiteiy terminating for the present at
least all efforts to reach compromise
peace. the time consumed in the
preparation Of the reply was remark
ably short. That the presidents re-
sponse would be q courteous but firm
dsclination had been generally be-
lieved. 80 that in this respect at least
his communication viii cause no sur
prise.
The feature that Is certain to fix
public attention is the cold determ,.
nation not even to permit the subject
OF peace negotiations to be broached
20 long ~ the evil and dominating
forces Of autocracy and militarism
control the central powers. 1t is not
even necessary to read between the
lines Of the presidents response to
sec clearly apparent the infiexible pur-
pose.
FOR this reason the president was
NOT 70 be led into any discussion of
the peace condition detailed by Pope
Benedict. though that field was made
ailuring by the pontiffs adoption Of
some of the proposals laid down by
President Wilson himself in earlv ut-
terances. On the other hand there was
no EFFORT to evade responsibility for
an expression Of view as to the bases
or sound and enduring peace for the
presidents response in its concluding
paragraphs restates the purposes for
which America entered the great war.
The radical differences that appear
TO exist between the pope and the
president touch this very matter of
q stable and enduring peace. The
pontiff looks to the restoration Of
conditions as they existed before the
war The president turns his back
upon these. convinced that a return
to the status quo ante bellum could
never bring permanent peace. As one
oficial expressed 1t. the presidents
response. rejecting as 1t does the
Views Of the entente allies. sounds
the doom OF Hohenzollernism and
military domination of peoples. That
this can and should be accomplished d
without the destruction Of the Ger
man people Is one Of the striking ex
pressions noted when he expressly
disclaims any intent to seek punitive
damages and the dismemberment OF
empires OF even central powers af |