Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-12-06

They may safely be left to strut their
uneasy hour and be forgotten
Peace BY Overcoming Evil.
But from another point Of view,
believe that it is necessary to say
plainly what we, here at the seat OF
action, consider the war to be for, and
what part we mean to play in the set
Element of its searching issues. We
are spokesman of the American people
and they Lave right to know wheth.
er their purpose is ours. They desire
peace by the overcoming Of evil, by
the defeat once for all of the sinister
forces that interrupt peace and render
it impossible, and they wish to know
how closely our thought runs with
theirs and what action we propose
They are impatient with those who
desire peace by any sort Of comprom.
ise--deeply and Indignantly impatient
but they will be equally impatient
with US if we do not make it plain to
them what our detectives are and
what we are planning for in seeking
to make conquest of peace by arms.
Must Crush Master.
believe that speak for them when
say two things First, that this in
tolerable thing OF which the masters
of Germany have shown US the ugly
face, this menace Of combined intrigue
and force which we now see SO clearly
as the German power, thin with Oil
conscience or honor or capacity for
covenanted peace, must be crushed
and If it be not utterly brought TO an
end. at least shut out from the friend
ly intercourse Of the nations; and
second, that when this thing and its
power are indeed defeated and the
time comes that we can discuss peace
when the German people. have
spokesman whose word we can bel'eye
and when these spokesman are ready
in the name OF Their people to accept
the common Judgment of the nations
as to what shall henceforth be tbs
bases of law and Of covenant for tbs
life OF the world-we shall be willine
and glad to pay the full price fol
peace and pay 1t ungrudgingly.
Hears Voice OF humanity.
We know what that price will be
It will be full, impartial justice, jus
tice done at every point and to every
nation The final settlement must
affect our enemies as well as oul
friends. You catch. with me, the yoic
es of humanity that are in the air
They grow daily more audible, mor'
articulate, more persuasive, and the,
come from the hearts OF men every
| where They insist that the war shall
not end in yindictive action OF an,
kind: that no nation or people shall
be robbed or punished because the ir
responsible rulers of single countr,
have themselves done deep and abom
Unable wrong
Huns Lead S!avs Astray.
II is this thought that has been ex
pressed in the formula mo annexa
tions, no contributions, no punitive in
IDENTITIES" Just because this crud,
formula expresses the instructive judS
ment as to right OF plain men every
where, II has been made diligent us'
Of BY the masters of German intrigu,
to lead the people Of Russia astray--
and the people Of every other countr!
their agents could reach In order tha
a premature peace might be brough
about before autocracy has bee,
taught IT. final and convincing lessor
and the people OF the world put II
control OF their own destinies.
| To Base Peace on Justice.
| But the fact that wrong use h.
been made of just idea is no reason
why right use should not be mad
OF it. II ough, to be brought unde
the patronage OF its real friends. lie
II be said again that autocracy mus
first be shown the utter futility OF II
claims to power or leadership in tn
modern world 1t is impossible to NJ
ply any standard OF justice so long a
such forces are unchecked and unde
feated as the present masters Of Gel
many command, Not until that ha
been done can Right &c set up as al
bitter and peacemaker among the m
tions. But when that has been done
as God willingly 1t assuredly will be-
we shall at last be free to do an IN
precedented thing and this Is the tim
to avow our purpose to do It. We saa'
be free to base peace on generoslt