The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-12-06


session OF congress and delivered the
following annual address:
Gentlemen Of the Congress-:
Eight mouths have elapsed since /
last had the honor OF addressing you.
They have been months crowded with
events of immense. and grave signlfi-
canoe Tor US. shall not undertake IT,
detail or even to summarize those
events.
The practical particulars of the part
we have played in them will be laid
before you in the reports of the ex-
ecutive departments. l shall discuss
only our present outlook upon these
vast affairs. our present duties and
the immediate means OF accomplish
ing the objects We shall hold always
in view.
shall not go back to debate the
causes OF the war. The intolerable
wrongs done and Planned against US
by the sinister masters of Germany
have long since become too grossly
obvious and odious to every true
American to need 10 be rehearsed.
But shall ask you to consider again
end with a very grave scrutiny our
objectives and the measures by which
We mean 10 attain them; tor the pur-
pose OF discussion here in this place
is action and our action must move
straight toward definite ends. Our
object is, of course, to win the war,
| and we shall not slacken or suffer
ourselves to be diverted until it is
won. But it is worth while asking
and answering the question when shall
We consider the war won?
| Do Not Understand Peace.
From one point OF view it is not
necessary to broach this fundamental
matter. l do not doubt that the Amer
lean people know what the war is
about and what sort Of an outcome
they will regard as realization o1
their purpose in it. AS a nation VIC
are united in spirit and intention.
pay, little heed to those who tell me
otherwise. l hear the voices of dis
sent-who does not? I hear the criti
cism and the. clamor Of the noisiiy
thoughtless and troublesome. also
see men here and there fling them
selves in impotent disloyalty against
the calm, indomitable power of tht
nation. / hear mezl debate peace wht
understand neither its nature nor the
way in which We main attain 1t witt
uplifted eyes and unbroken spirits
But know that none of these speak!
for the nation. They do not touci
the heart of anything. They ma.
safely be left to strut their uneasy
hour and be forgotten.
But from another point Of view
believe that 1t is necessary to sa,
plainly what we here at the seat o
action consider the war to be for ant
what part we mean to play in the set
tlement Of its searching issues. W.
are the spokesmen of the American
people and they have right to know
whether their purpose is ours. The,
desire peace by the overcoming o
evil, by the defeat once for all of tn
sinister forces that interrupt peac
and render it impossible, and the,
wish to know how closely our though
runs with theirs and what action W
propose. They are impatient witt
those who desire peace by any sor
of compromise deeply and indignant
Iy impatient-but they win be eQuall
impatient with us IL we do not make
plain to them what our objectiyes ar
and what we are planning for in seel
Ing to make conquest of peace b
arms.
believe that l speak for theI
when say two things: First. tina
this intolerable Thing of which tn
Masters of Germany have shown U
the ugly face, this menace Of con
bined intrigue and force which W
now see 30 clearly az the Germa
power, Thing without conscience Q
honor or capacity for covenante
peace, must be crushed, and if it b
not utterly brought to an end at leas
shut out from the friendly intercours
Of nations, and. second, that when tn
: Thing and its power are indeed d
feated and the time comes that "
can discuss peace-when the Germa
: people have spokesmen whose VOL
! we can believe and when thos
spokesmen are ready In the name I
! their people to accept the commo
Judgment of the nations as to wh'
shall henceforth be the basis of la
and Of covenant for the life Of tt
world we shall be willing and glad
pay the full price for peace and pay
ungrudgingly. We know what th'
price will be. It will be full. impa
tial justice-justice done at eyeI