The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-09
How the War Came to America
Continued from last week


now becoming clear. From the out
break of hostilities the German
Government had claimed that it
was fighting war of defense. But
the tone of its recent proposals had
been that of a conqueror. 1t sought
peace based on victory. The
central empires aspired to extend
their domination over other races.
They were willing to make liberal
terms to any one of their enemies,
in separate peace which would
free their hands to crush other op.
ponents. But they were not will.
ing to accept any peace which did
not, all fronts considered, leave
them victors and the dominating
imperial power of Europe. The war
aims of the Entente showed deter.
mination to thwart this ambition
Of the Imperial German Govern
ment. Against the German Peace to
further German growth and ag.
gression the Entente Powers offer.
ed plan for European Peace
that should make the whole contin-
ent secure.
At this juncture the President
read his address to the Senate, OH
January %, 1917, in which he out
lined the kind of peace the United
States of America could join in
guaranteeing words were address
ed not only to the Senate and this
Nation but to people Of all coun-
tries.
May I not add that I hope and
believe that l am in effect speak
ing for liberals and friends of
humanity in every nation and of
every program of liberty? l would
fain believe that l am speaking for
the silent mass of mankind every
where who have as yet had no place
or opportunity to speak their real
hearts out concerning the death
and ruin they see to have come al
ready upon the persons and the
homes they hold most DEAR
The address was rebuke to
those who still cherished dreams OF
a world dominated by one nation.
For the peace he outlined was
not that of victorious emperor, it
was not the peace of Caesar. 1t was
in behalf of all the world, and it
was Peace of the People.
"No peace can last, or ought to
last, which does not recognize and
accept the principle that govern
ments derive all their just powers
from the consent of the governed,
and that no right anywhere. exists
to hand people about from SOW.
ereignty to- sovereignty as if they
were property
81 am proposing, as it were,
that the nations should with one
accord adopt the doctrine of Presi-
dent Monroe as the doctrine of the
world; that no nation should seek
to extend it's policy over any other
nation or people, but that every
people should be left free to de
termine its own policy, its own way
of development. unhindered, I'M
threatened, unafraid, the little
along with the great and power.
full
81 am proposing that all ma
tions henceforth avoid entangline
alliances which would draw them
into competitions of power, catch
them in net of intrigue and sell
fish rivalry, and disturb their own
affairs with influences intruded
from without. There is no entagl-
ing alliance in a concert of power.
When all unite to act in the same
sense and with the same purpose.
all act in the common interest and
are free to live their own lives
under common protection"
Z" am proposing government by
the consent of the governed; thai
freedom of the seas which i'm inter.
national conference after confer.
; ence representatives of the United
States have urged with the eloqu.
cnce of those who are the convinc.
ed disciples of liberty; and that
moderation of ornaments which
makes Of armies and navies a DOW
er of order merely. not an instru
ment of aggression or of selfish
| violence.
"And the paths of the seas
must. alike in law and in fact. BE-
free. The freedom of the seas i.
the sine qua non of peace. equality
and cooperation
cit is a problem closely con
nected with the limitation of nava
armament and the cooperation Of
the navics of the world in keepin.
! the seas at once free and safe. Anc
the question of limiting naval arm
ament opens the wider and per
! hans more difficn1t unoSt;on of +h.