The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-08-14

1HE HERAL-
faycr OF peace might be given force.
Other governments W.: ,aii If they
continue to resist the desire Of th3
90 e % So. tt, wo".l butchers.
Our own government should not max"
the mistake of imagining that its pe0'
p]e desire war. They desire peace
love all things.
~ am confident that congress di'
not desire war but the president and
congress seemed to be impressed tina.
we could not avoid it. If, however,
from the beginning it had been known
that we were going to send an I'M
mense army to Europe and finance all
the allies, there would have been an
extremely powerful opposition on the
part of the people to any such action
and if democracy is to exist in Amer1-
ca it is essential that an express
sion of dissatisfaction on the part O!
the people against any action of gov
ernment should not be interferea
with.
Our People Loyal
"Our people are sufficiently loyal to
back the government and get 1t OUT
of a mistake, if it has made one, but
the American people are not likely 20
listen kindly to the doctrine that they
cannot express themselves about
their own affairs without being called
traitors and charged with sed1tlon.
~ am writing this letter
merely to let you know that one, at
least. of the members of the council
of defense did not approve OF the
above two features :of that meeting.
l did not applaud any OF the SPEAK
ers on either of the above two points,
nor for that matter on any points,
because 1 felt that the entire meeting
was going in the wrong direction.
sI talked with a number; of other
members after the meeting and found
them in agreement: with me. do not
regard the meeting as at all repre-
sentative, in. its management. of the
sentiment Of the people who attended,
although there was strong applause
for a number of addresses. Men VINO
applauded told me afterwards that
thev did not approve of the extreme
views expressed. :
If Allies Are Reasonable
Germany is eager for discussion
Of the terms of peace, and if the allies
will only enter into conference be-
lieve that peace can be accomplished
in a short time. provided the allies
are reasonable. II they are unreason-
able then America should not support
them.
81 cannot too strongly commend
your advocacy of an early peace. We
do not desire to destroy Germany
She, is one of the most important
countries in South Carolina trade.
From her we must get the potash
with which to make crops. To" her
We: will sell immense quantities OF
cotton goods and cotton and cotton
seed products. She has been guilty Of
many outrageous things, but some o.
her enemies have also been guilty
OF similar outrages. The fact is that
the world is war mad and nothing
but the love of peace and the willing
ness to compromise and be reasonable
can bring about peace which will
save civilization
Japan is Ready
Japan, though in the war, is say
ing her resources for a possible con-
fiict with us at later date. If We
become financially involved and Grip
pied also from man-power stand
point we will have to meet Japan at
last.
''I do not wish to be active in state
politics, not to. get into any political
controversy. but I believe that this
war will never end unless the peace
parties of the various countries at
war have opportunity to pc heard n
the expression Of t!eir views, and it
requires leadership to give express
sion to the views of the people.
"I look with horror upon the at
titude taken by some of our own
static leaders and publications in this
state leaders and publications in this
thought and free expression, and
cannot too highly commend you TO:
your courage in giving expression t.