The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-29
AUSTRIAN RIGHTEOUSNESS

With pious hands upraised and eyes
rolling to heaven, the Austrian kaiser.
after due and careful consideration, thus
replies to the pope's peace note:
With due veneration and deep emo
ton we take cognizance OF the new
representations OF your holiness With
a thankful heart we receive this fresh
gift Of fatherly care. From the depth
Of our heart we greet the loving exhor.
tation which your holiness has address
ed to the government Of the belligerent
peoples.
Since ascending the throne Of our
ancestors, fully conscious Of the respon-
sibility which we bear before God and
men for the fate of the Austro-Hungar.
ian monarchy. we have never lost sight
Of the high aim Of restoring 10 our peo-
pies as speedily as possible the blessings
Of peace. Soon after our accession 20
the throne II was vouchsafed to US. in
common with our allies. 10 undertake a
step which had been considered and pre-.
pared by our exalted predecessor. Fran
els Josef, to pave the way for a lasting
and honorable peace"
The head Of the Austrian government
proceeds to tell. in words Of throbbing
eloquence, that Austria's desires from
the first were directed toward the same
object as that which your holiness TO-DAY
characterizes as one we should strive
for" Austria ardently yearns for a
future arrangement of the world that
win be based on the elimination of
armed forces and ON the moral to-ce of
right and on the rule Of international
justice and legality" The Austrian
government Is "imbued with the more
that a strengthening OF the sense ~
right would morally regenerate human.
ity." IL is in favor-of reducing armu.
ments by land and sea. And rs q guar.
antee, il favors the submission OF inter.
national disputes to compulsory arbi.
tntion.
The Austrian government, which lie.
liberately launched this wicEedes. oi
wars. tho government which chose the
way OF war for the sake Of pimtical
conquest and the suppression ~ free
peoplesl the government which, backed
by German. refused all the pleas OF
France, Great Britain and Russia for
peaceful arbitration OF its dispute with
Serbia. now, It's hands red with the
blood OF continent and its fame black
ened forever by Unprecedented crimes,
dares to naunt these phcrsnc phrases
in the face OF the righteous forces Of
the world.
Tho h,1 ocrisy is so patent that u
needs ~ comment The mere repetition
OF these pious mouthings is enough TO
tprp the soughtfor sympathy of re.
uglaus men aud women - scornful
laughter. We know the part that Aus
ria has played. But lest any person
be ongnared by the web of fair words
woven by some diplomatic spde; Of
Vienna let US quote another para
graph:
~ AS we most heartily desire, agree
ments should be arrived at between the
belligerents which would realize this sub
lime idea, and thereby give security to
the Austro,Hungarian monarchy for It's
unhampered future development, Il can
not then be difficult 90 nnd satisfac
tory solution Of the other questions
which remain to be settled between the
helligerents."
Security to the Austro-Hungarian
monarchy for It's unhampered future de-
velopment" There's the "nigyor In the
woodpne" After the perpetration Of
the greatest crime In history. Austril
has the audaciiy to ask, Ms the prc'imi'
nary price OF peace based ON lntcrna-