The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-06-15
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
MESSAGE TO RUSSIA
Declares the War is for the Liberia
tSn of Manknd-United States
Seeks No Additional Terri
tory Nor Selfish Advan-
tage of Any Kind.

President Wilson's address to the
Russian people, given in view of the
visit of the American commissioner to
Russia, is clearly stated defense of
democracy and solemn pledge to the
world that the United States is in this
war for no selfish purpose. The fol-
lowing is the text of the letter ad-
dressed to Russia:
"In view of the approaching visit
of the American commission to Rus,
'sia to express the deep friendship of
the American people for the people of
Russia and to discuss the best and
most practical means of cooperation
between the two peoples in carrying
the present struggle for the freedom
of all peoples to successful consum-
nation, it seems opportunne and ap-
propriate that 1 should state again, in
the light of this new partnership, the
objects the United States has had in
mind in entering the war. Those OBJ
jects have been very much beclouded
during the past few weeks by mis-
taken and misleading statements, and
the issues at stake are too momen-
tous, too tremendous, too significant
for the whole human race to permit
any misinterpretation or misunder-
standing, however slight, to remain
uncorrected for a moment.
The war has begun to go against
Germany land in their desperate de-
sire to escape their inevitable ultimate
defeat, those who are in authority in
Germany are using every possible in
-strumentality, are making use even of
the influence of groups and parties
among their own subjects to whom
they have never been just or fair or
even tolerant to promote a propa-
ganda on both sides of the sea which
will preserve for them their influence
at home and their power abroad, to
the undoing of the very men they are
using.
Americas Position Clear.
"The position of America in this
war is so clearly avowed that no man
can be excused for mistaking it. She
seeks no material profit or aggran-
dizement of any kind. She Is fighting
for no advantage or selfish object of
her own, but for the liberation of
people everywhere from the aggres-
classes in Germany have begun of late
to profess a like liberality and Justice
of purpose, but only to preserve the
power they have set up in Germany
and the selfish advantages which they
have wrongly gained for themselves
and their private objects of power all
the way from Berlin to Bagdad and
beyond. Government after govern
ment has by their influence, without
open conquest of its territory. been
linked together in net of intrigue
directed against nothing less than
the peace and liberty Of the world.
The meshes of that intrigue must be
broken, but cannot be broken unless
wrongs already done are undone; and
adequate measures must be taken to
prevent it from ever again being re-
woven or repaired.
"Of course the imperial German
government, and those whom it is
using to obtain pledges that the war
will end in the restoration of the
status quo ante. 1t was the status
quo ante out of which this iniquitous
war issued forth, the power of the i'm
perial German government within its
empire and its widespread domination
will influence outside of that empire.
That status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such hide
GUS thing from ever happening again.
Fighting for Liberty.
1--WE are fighting for the liberty, the
self government, and the indicated
development of all peoples, and every
feature of the settlement that con-
cludes this war must be conceived
and executed for that purpose.
Wrongs must be righted and then ad-
equate safeguards must be created
to precent their being committed
again. We ought not to consider rem
'edies merely because they have a
pleasing and sonorous sound. Practi-
cal questions can be settled only by
practical means. Phrases will not ac-
complish the result. Effective read
justments will and whatever read
Justments are necessary must be
made.
"But they must follow a principle,
and that principle is plain. No peo-
pie must be forced under sovereignty
under which it does not wish to live.
No territory must change hands ex-
cept for the purpose of securing those
who inhabit it a fair chance of life and
liberty. No indemnities must be in
sisted on except those that constitute
payment for manifest wrongs done.
No readjustments of power must be
made except such as will tend to Sc
cure the future peace Of the world
and the future welfare and happiness
of its peoples.
"And then the free people of the
world y,oucf drau fn1ofbar - ..-