El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-04
FREE GERNiNY'S VASSAL nations
FROM BONDAGE, ONE Of WAR AIMS
President Declares Justice and Not Might Must Govern
Approves Theory Of No Annexations and No Indem-
mites; Says Free Men Everywhere Insist That
Despotic Injustices Must Be Discarded.
Continued From Page u

share The comradeship Of the other
I people of the world, either in thought
or purpose
Free COnsciences VIII Dictate.
They were allowed to have no
opinion of their own, which might be
set up as a rule Of conduct for those
who exercised authority over them.
But the congress that concludes this
war viii feel the fun strength of the
tides that run now in the hearts and
consciences OF free men everywhere.
Its conclusions viii run with those
tides.
Truth Is the Only Antidote.
All these things have been true
from the very beginning Of this stu
pendOus war; and I cannot help
thinking that II they had been made
plain al the very outset the sym
pathy and enthusiasm Of the Russian
people might have been once for all
enlisted on the side OF the allies
suspicion and distrust swept away
and a real and lasting union Of pur-
pose effected.
Had they believed these things at
the very moment Of their revolution
and had they been confirmed in that
belief since, the sad reverses which
have recently marked the progress OF
their affairs toward an ordered and
stable government OF free men might
have been avoided. The Russian
people have been poisoned by the very
same falsehOOds that have kept the
German people in the dark. and the
poison has been administered by the
very same hands. The only possible
antidote is the truth. 1t cannot be
uttered too plainly or too often
Justice and Equality Of Rights.
From every point OF view, there
fore, It has seemed to be my duty to
speak these declarations OF purpose,
To add these specific interpretations
TO what I took the liberty OF saying
10 the senate in January Our en-
trance INTO the war has not altered
our attitude toward the settlement
which must come when IL IS over 1
said in January that the nations Of
the world were entitled not only to
free pathways upon the sea. but also
to assured and unmOIested access to
those pathways. I was thinking. and
1 am thinking now, not OF the smaller
and weaker nations alone, which
need our coGnteuance and support
but also OF the great and powerful
nations. and Of our present enemies
as wei as our present associates in
the war.
Il was thinking. and am thinking
now OF Austria herself. among the
rest. as we'll as Of Servia and Of
Poland Justice and equality Of
rights can be had only at q great
price We are seeking permanent,
not temporary foundations for the
peace Of the world and must seek
them candidly and fearlessIy. as al
ways the right VIII prove 20 be the
eXpedient-
Must Clear Away All Impediments.
What shall we do, then, 10 push this
great war OF freedom and justice 10
its righteous conclusion? We must
clear away with thorough hand all
impediments TO success and we must
make every adjustment o. law that
viii facilitate the fun and free use
OF our whole capacity and force as
fighting unit.
Declare War on Austrin-
One very embarrassing obstacle
that stands in our way is that We are
NJ war with Germany but not with her
allies L therefore, very earnestly
recommend that the congress immedI-
ateiy declare the United states in n
state of war with Aus1ria-Hungary.
Does It seem strange To you that
this should be the conclusion OF the
argument ! have just addressed to
yCu2 It is not Il Is, in fact. the inevi- .
table logic Of what I have said Aus /
tris -IIunEary is for the time being not I
her own mistress, but simply the vas
sal Of the German government We 4
must face the facts as they are and Z
act upon them without sentiment in +
this stern disease.
Must Meet Force With Force.
The government Of Austria Hun z
gary Is not acting upon Its own initi- I
ative or in response TO the wishes and 4
feelings Of its own peoples. but as
the instrument Of another nation We /
must meet its force with our own and I
regard the central powers as but one. I
The war can be successfully conduct I
ed in no other way. The same logic (
would lead also 10 a declaration Of Wal. !
against Turkey and BuIEariH. They I
also are the tools of Germany. But /
they are mere tools and do not yet .
stand in the direct path Of our neeeS-
sary action We shall 90 wherever the ,