The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1917-12-07

Just because this crude formula ex-
presses the instructive judgment as
/ to the right of plain men everywhere
it has been made diligent use OF by the
masters of German intrigue to lead the
people of Russia astray-and the peo-
pie of every country their agents could
reach in order that a premative peace
might be brought about before autoc.
racy has been taught its final and con-
vincing lesson, and the people OF the
world put in control of their own des-
TIMES.
But the fact that a wrong use has
been made of a just idea is no reason
why right use should not be made OF
il.
1t ought to be brought under the
patronage Of it's real friends. Let 1t
be said again that autocracy must first
be shown the utter futility OF its claims
to power or leadership in the modern
world. 1t is impossible to apply any
standard of justice so long as such
forces are unchecked and indicated
as the present masters of Germany
command. Not until this has been
done can Right be set up as arbiter
and peacemaker among the nations.
But when that has been done-as, God
willing, it assuredly will be--we shall
at last be free to do an unprecedented
thing, and this the time to avow our
purpose to do it. We shall be free
to base peace on generosity and JUS
tice, to the exclusion of all selfish
claims to advantage even on the part
OF the victors.
War Will Be Won
Let there be no misunderstanding
Our present and immediate task is to
win the war, and nothing shall turn
us aside until it is accomplished. Ev-
cry power and resource we possess,
whether of men, of money or of ma
terials, is being devoted and will con-
tinue to be devoted to that purpose
until it is achieved. Those who desire
to bring peace about before that pur-
pose is achieved / counsel to carry
their advice elsewhere. We will not
entertain it. We shall regard the war
as won only when the German people
say to us, through properly accredited
representatives, that they are ready
to agree to a settlement based upon
Justice and the PREPARATION of the
wrongs their rulers have done.
They have done a wrong to Belgium
which must be repaired. They have
established power over other lands
and peoples than their own-over the
great empire of Austria Hungary, over
hitherto free Balkan states, over Tur-
key and within Asia-which must be
relinquished.
Germany's success, by skill, by in
dustry, by knowledge, by enterprise,
we did not grudge or oppose, but adj
mired, rather She had built up for
herself a real empire of trade and in
fiuence, secured by the peace of the
world. We were content to abide the
rivalries of manufacture, science and
commerce that were involved for US
in her success, and stand or fall as
we had, or did not have, the brains
and the initiative to surpass her. But
at the moment when she had conspic-
uously won her triumphs of peace she
threw them away, to establish in their
stead what the world will no longer
permit to be established-military and
political domination by arms, by which
to GUST, where she could not excel
the rivals she most feared and hated.
The peace we make must remedy that
wrong.
Nations Must Be Free
1t must deliver the once fair lands
and happy people of Belgium and
northern France from the Prussian
conquest and the Prussian menace,
but it must also deliver the peoples
of Austria Hungary, the peoples of the
Balkans and the peoples OF Turkey,
alike in Europe and in Asia, from the
impudent and alien domination Of the
Prussian military and commercial au-
tocracy.
We owe it, however, to ourselves
TO say that we do not wish in any
way to impair or to rearrange the Aus
tro-Hungarian empire. It is no affair
of ours what they do with their own
life, either industrially or politically.
We do not purpose or desire to die
tate to them in any way. We only de-
sire to see that their affairs are left
in their own hands, in all matters,
great or small.
We shall hope to secure for the peo-
pies of the Balkan peninsula and for
the people of the Turkish empire the
right and opportunity to make their
own lives safe, their own fortunes Sc
cure against oppression or Injustice,
and from the dictation OF foreign
courts or parties.
And our attitude and purpose with
regard to Germany herself are OF a
like kind. We intend no wrong against
the German empire: no interference
with her internal affairs. We should
deem either the one or the other abb
solutely unjustifiable. absolutely con-
trary to the principles we have pro-
fessed to live by and to hold most
sacred throughout our life as ma
ton.
The people OF Germany are be-
ing told by the men whom they now
hermit to deceive them and to act
Is their masters that they are fighting
for the very life and existence OF their
empire-a war Of desperate self-de-
tense against deliberate aggression.
German People Deceived
Nothing could be more grossly or
vanity false. and we must seek by the