Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-30

The we'll meaning men who, In their
praiseworthy desire for peace, are con-
tinually evolving what they honestly
think is some new and probable way OF
setting 1t, never do more than demon
strate the difficulties lying IN the way
Of any negotiation with Germany
that has not been either beaten or re-
formed DR. Eliot's proposal In the
Times today is for a new stockholm
coaference the only important diner
ence being that the delegates, who are
to be as powerless as those to the old
Stockholm conference, shall be named
by the governments. He bases the
proposal oh the discovery that after
three years Of warfare the military
situation has reached a stalemate ana
"for each party 1t is inconclusive.
Transporting Dr. Eliot back fifty
three years, one can imagine him
using exactly the same language, with
equal justice, in April. 1864. Many
well-meaning pacifists did use that
language, and did propose TO President
Lincoln that in view of that stalemate
they should appoint conferees exactly
as DIR. Eliot now proposes that the
belligerents should appoint them; con-
ferees who should merely discuss and
have no power to bind their govern
ments. The reason Mr.. Lincoln did
not consent is exactly the reason for
which the defenders Of liberty today
will not consent; because the issue
was one OF life or death for the ideal
for which, he was fighting. and be-
cause he did not believe the stalemate
would continue. Transporting DR..
a,l1, a onntnrv and
half. one can imagine him using
exactly the same language In April
ITS, to General Washington and the
Continental Congress. The war mao
then gone on for three years, and
"for each party it was inconclusive'
But the issue was one that could not
be compromised without death to the
ideal of liberty, and Washington oio
not believe the stalemate would con-
tinue. The defenders Of liberty today,
when it is menaced on wider scale
will not be more faint-hearred or more
weary in well-doing than were wash
ington and Lincoln.
When one examines the suo)ectS
which DR. Eliot proposes for his STOCK
holm redivivus, one has only to change
the wording enough to make them
concrete instead of abstract in order
to see the predestined end OF such q
conference. He proposes to raise the
question whether the nations will pro-
hibit themselves from exercising rule
or domination over any other nation,
large or small, occidental or oriental
India, for instance? And the Phinp-
pinese In other words. England Is to-
discuss the proposal that she dissolve
and abolish the British empire.
He proposes that they discuss Al
European readjustment by which no
European population shall be held by
force to an unnatural allegiance con
trary to their wishes" This Is one
Of the war objects Of the allies. one OF
the things which the central powers
are resisting to the death. 1t Is what
the Germans mean when they say that
the allies are trying to destroy them.
When Germany and Austria will con-
sent to set free Alsace, Lorraine, Tren-
tho Istria, Roumanian Transylvania,
and Austrian Poland, or even to con-
slider the subject unofficially. 1t VIII
be because the allies Will have won
victories far more brilliant than any
they have won yet.
He proposes that the nations shall
pledge themselves to make no more
extensions OF territory by conquest
Withou. doubt Germany would eisn
such a pledge cheerfully, since Tor her
It would be but one more scrap OF
paper. Cheerfully? She would sign II
hilariously. The allies will never 80
thru the form Of submitting such
pledge to Germany that has NOT
been either beaten or reformed.
The proposal for league OF NATIONS
"a nreyent war, "if need be by the use