The Monticellonian., 1917-11-09

l tenceforth Inscre the observance | hose principles.
 | Neutrality Is longer feasible
 desirable where the peace of the worI' | is involved and the freedom of its peo
 ,ies. and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of auto 'ratic governments, backed by organ
 zed force which fs controlled who'll, by their will. not by the will of thei, | people. We have seen the last of neu | trality in such circumstances. We are | ,t the beginning of an age In which f | will he insisted that the same stand
 srds of conduct and of responsibiiIts | for wrong done shall be observed 'mong nations and their governments | hat are observed among the individual 1 'Itizens of civilized states.
 We have no quarrel with the German people. We have no feeling toward 1 them but one of sympathy and friend | hip. II was not upon their impulse | that their government acted in enter ng the war. It was not with their previous knowledge or approval It vas a war determined upon as wars l used to be determined upon in the old unhappy days. when peoples were no- where consulted by their rulers and vars were provoked and waged in the interest of dynasties or of little groups of ambitious men who were accustome d to use their fellow men as pawns and tools.
 seIf-goyerned nations do not fill their neighbor states with spies or set the course of intrigue to bring about some critical posture of affairs which will give them m opportunity to strike and make conquest. Such designs can he Successfully worked out only under cover and where has the right fo ask questions. Cunningly eontrfved plans of deception aggression. car rfed, 1t may he from generation to gen eration. can he worked out and kept from the light only within the privacy of courts or behind the carefully guard cd condolences of a narrow and prtvf- legged class. They are happily fmpossi- bIe where public opinion commands and insists upon full Information concern ing all the nations affairs.
 steadfsst concert for peace cnn never be maintained except by a part nership of democratic nations. No au- tocratie government could he trusted to keep faith within 1t or observe Its covenants. It must he league of honor. a partnership of opinion. In- trigue would eat It's vita1s away; the plottings of inner circles who could plan what they would. and render ac- count to one. would he corruption seated at It's very heart. Only free peo- pie can hold their purpose and their honor steady to common end, and prefer the interest of mankind to any narrow interest of their own.
 Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world oy the wonderful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was known by those who knew her best to have been always In fact democratic at heart In all vital habits of her thought. in all the intimate relation ships of her people that spoke their natural instinct. their habitual attitude toward life. The autocracy that crown ed the summit of her political struc- ture. long 1t had stood and terrible was the reality of Its power. was not in fact Russian In origin. charac- ter. or purpose. and now 1t has been shaken oT and the great generous Rus sian people have been added, In all their native majesty and might. to the forces that are fighting for freedorT In the world. for justice. and for peace. Here is a fit partner for league or honor
 One of the things that have served to convince that the Prussian auto- cracy was not and could never he our friend Is that from the very outset of the present war it has filled our un- suspecting communities. and even our offices of government. with spies ana set criminal intrigues everywhere afoot against our national unity or counsel. our peace within and without. our in- dustries. and our commerce. Indeed 1T is now evident that its spies were here even before the war began and if Is unhappily not matter of conjecture. hut fact proven in our courts of jus- tiee. that the intrigues which have more than once come perileuslS nenr to disturbing the peace and disiocatng the industries of the country. have been iaI at e tnSfiENttOn, with inc support, and even under the personal directions of official agents of the Inn perfal government accredited to the government of the United States.
 Even in checking these things and trying to eNtirpate them we nave sought to put the most generous inter- pretation possible upon them. because we knew that their source lay not In any hostile feeling or purpose Of the German people toward us twho were. no doubt. as ignorant of them as we ourselves were1. but only In the seihsh designs of government that did what It pleased and told its people nothing. But they have played their part In serN- ing to convince us at last that that government entertains no real friend ship for and means to act against our peace and security nt its conveni- ence. That it means to stir up enemies against us at our very doors. the tn-
 
 at Mexico City is eloquent evidence
 We are accepting this challenge of hostile purpose because we know that in such a government, following such methods. can never have friend and that in the presence of its organ ized power. always lying In wait to accomplish we know not what pur- pose there can be assured security for the democratic governments of the world. We are now about to accept the gage of battle with the natural foe to liberty. and shall if necessary. spend the whole force of the nation to check and nullify it's pretensions and its pow CT We are glad now that we see the facts with no ycil of false pretense about them. to fight thus for the ulti- mate peace of the world and for the liberation af its peoples, the German peoples included; for the rights of na- tions great and small. and the priyi- Iege of men cveryvhr-r to csOoSe their wny of life and of obedience.
 The world must he made safe for democracy. It's peace must he planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no copqueSts no dominion. We seek indcmnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them.
 Just because we fight without rancor and without selfish object. seeking