The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-05


as such forces are unchecked and un,
defeated as the present masters OIL
Germany command, Not until thai
has been done can right be set up a.
arbstar aTIdS PeaCgDaKer among the
nations But when that has beer
done--as, God willing. it assuredIS
will he-~we shall at last be free to dc
an Unprecedented thing, and this Il
the time 10 avow our purpose to do IT
We shall be free to base peace on
generosity and Justice. TO the exclu-
sion of oil selfish claims to advantage
even on the part Of the victors.
Present Task Is Victory.
Let there he no misunderstanding
Our present and immediate task ~ 10
win the war, and nothing shall turn
US aside from 1t until II is accom-
pliShed. Every power and resource we
possess, whether OF men. of money
or OF materials. ts being devoted AND
viii continue TO he devoted to that
purpose until Il is achieved. Those
v ho desire to bring peace about be-
fore that purpose is achieved | coun-
ses to carry their advice elsewhere.
We will not entertain 1t.
We shall regard the war rs won
only when the German people say TO
as, through properly accredited rep
rcrcy,tatigCs, that they are ready TO
agree to a settlement based upon JUS
lice and the rcparation of the wrongs
their rulers have done. They have
done a wrong to Belgium which must
be repaired They have established a
power over other lands and peoples
than their own---oyer the great en-
plre OF AustrIa- Hungary, over hithcr-
to free Balkan states, over Turkey,
and within Asia--which must be re-
inquishcd-
Germany's Trade Empire.
Germany's success by skill, by IN
lustry, by knowledge. by enterprise
We did not grudgs or oppose, but ad-
mired. rather She had built up Tor
herself real empire OF trade and In
fiucnce, secured 10y the peace of the
world We we're content to abide the
rivairies Of manufacture, of science
and commerce that were involved for
as in her success and stand or fall
8s We had or did not have the brains
and the initiative to surpass her. But
at the moment when she had con-
spicuousiy won her triumph Of peace
she threw them away, TO establish In
their stead Whist the world Will no
longer permit to be established, mill
tarv and political domination by arms,
by which to Dust where she could not
excel the rivals she most feared and
hated.
The peace VS. make must remedy
that wrong 1t mist deliver the once
GUM and Northern France from the
Prussian conquest and the Frussan
menace, hut 1t must also deliver the
people Of Austria Hungary, the peo-
piles Of the Balkans, the people OF
Turkey, alike in Europe and in Asia
from the impudeut and alien domi-
nation Of the Prussian military and
courercal autocracy.
E}i=ifitegratioa Not Proposed
! W'c owe it. however. to ourselves TO
say thai we do not wish in any way to
impair or to .rearrange the Austro-
Hungarian empire. II ia no affair OF
ours what they do with their own life
either industrially or politically we
do not purpose or desire to dictate
to them IA any way, We only desire
to zee that their affairs are LETT In
their own hands. in all matters, great
or small We shall hope to secure
for the peoples OF the Balkan PENN
suia and for the peoples Of the Turk
ish pire the right and opportunity
30 make their own lives sac. their
own fortunes secure against oppres-
sion Of injustice ana from the die
tation OF foreign courts or parties.
Ard our attitude and purpose Will
regard 10 Germany herself are of Z
IKE Kind We inicnd no wFoni
against the German empire, no infssr
ference with her internal affairs. n
. SHOULD utEAn AeftEstF tskt tiAt w At'
other absolutely unjustifabie, abSo
Iut"Iy contrary to the principles W,
have profe%sed TO live by and to hol1
most sacred throughout our life a
u nation,
Germans Are Deceived.
/ The people oS Germany are bein
told by the men whom they now per
NIT 10 deceive them and to act a
their masters that they are nghtin
for the very life and existence of thel
empire. a war Of desperate self-de
Tense against deliberate aggression
Nothing could be more grossly o
Wsntoulv false, and We must geek b
tho utmost opeuness aad csndor az t
our real aims to convince them OF II
faisentss. We are IN fact lighting TO
their S11S ntfratidn from fear 6ion
with our own--frorn the fear as we
as from the fact Of unjust attack b
HCighbofs or rivals or schemers ate
world empire. No one is threat"nin
the existence or the Independence @
the peaceful enterprise OF the Germa
empire,
Worst Fate OF Germans.
The worst that can happen TO IN
detrNnent Of the German people
this, thar II they should still. afte
he war - over. continue to be oblso
to live under ambitious and intrtguiH
q masters interested TO disturb III
peace If the world, men or classe
or men whom the other peoples c
the world Conld not trust, miEf