The Carlisle independent., 1917-12-06

ship of governments. II might be lm
possible, also, in such untoward cir
cumstances, to admit Germany to the
free economic intercourse which must
inevitably spring out OF the other part
nerships OF real peace. But there
would be no aggression in that; and
such a situation, inevitable because of
distrust, would in the very nature OF
things sooner or later cure itself, by
processes which would assuredly
set in.
The wrongs, the very deep wrongs,
committed in this war will have to be
righted. That is a matter of course.
But they cannot and must not be
righted by the commission of similar
wrongs against Germany and her al
lies.
viii Not Permit Repetition.
The world will not permit the com
mission of similar wrorgs as a means
of reparation and settlement. States
men must by this time have learned
that the opinion oil the world is every
where wide awake and fully compre-
hends the issues involved No repre-
sentative OF any seli-governed nation
will dare disregard it by attempting
any such covenants OF seltishness
and compromise as were entered into
at the congress of Vienna. The
thought OF the plain people here and
everywhere throughout the world. the
people who enjoy no privilege and
have very simple and unsophIsticated
standards OF right and wrong, is the
air all governments must henceforth
breathe if they would live.
1t is in the full disclosing light OF
conceived and executed IN this mid
day hour OF the worlds life. German
rulers nave been able to upset the
peace OF the world only because the
German people were not suffered un-
der their tutelage to share the com
radeship OF the other peoples of the
world either in thought or in purpose.
They We're allowed to have no opinion
of their own which might be set up
as rule of conduct for those who ex'
ercised authority over them. But the
congress that concludes this war will
feel the full strength of the tides that
run now in the hearts and consciences
of free men everywhere. Its conclu'
sions will run with those tides.
All these things have been true
from the very beginning OF the stu
pendous war; ana | cannot help think
ing that if they had been made plain
at the very outset the sympathy 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 purpose 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 re
Gently marked the progress of theiI
affairs toward an ordered and stable
government of free men might have
been avoided. The Russian people
Aidk z DCCI pOloOlCQ ny lhC oeihS
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 toe
plainly or too often.
From every point of view. there
fore, it has seemed to be my duty tC
speak these declarations of purpose, tC
add these specific interpretations to
what | took the liberty of saying to
the senate in January. Our entrance
into the war has not altered our atti
tude toward the settlement that mus
come when it is over When | said in
January that the nations OF the world
were entitled not only to free path
ways upon the sea, but also to as
sured and unmolested access to these
pathways, | was thinking, and | am
thinking now, not OF the smaller and
weaker nations alone, which need oul
countenance and support, but also OF
the great and powerful nations, anc
Of cur present enemies as well as oul
present associates in the war.
justice Costs Great Price.
| was thinking, and am thinking
now, OF Austria herself, among the
rest, as we'll as of Serbia and of Pc
land Justice and equality of rights
can be had only at great price. We
are seeking permanent, not tempo
rary foundations for the peace of ths
world, and must seek them candidlJ
and fearlessly. AS always, the rign
Will prove to be the expedient.
What shall we do, then, to pusi
this great war of freedom and JUS
tice to its righteous conclusion? W.
must clear away with thorough
hand all impedfnents to success am
we must make avery adjustment o
law that will facilitate the full ant