New-York tribune., 1917-07-15
Armageddon Here,
He Tells Senate
Liberty Gone if America
Fails, He Replies
to Stone
TFrnm Tne Tribuns Bureaul


the ultimate result Of this struggle De-
cause we did not have a vision long
enough and did not get into 1t IN ume'
declared John Sharp Williams, OF
Mississippi, in the Senate to-day.
Senator Williams was replying to
sneech of Senator Stone, chairman OF
the Foreign Relations Committee. Mr.,
Stone had declared that the uniteo
States could have ended the war by
taking the right steps prior TO its own
entry into the struggle. This was char
acterized by Mr.. Williams as an "iri-
descent dream"
Senator Williams was at no pains 70
conceal his contempt for the policy OF
delay, and, though his words with re-
gard TO the President were kindly
there was a sting in them. There was
much discussion among Senators al
terward. as the President is known to
have & high regard for Mr.. Williams
opinion. having on several occasions
visited the Mississippi Senator on the
eve Of important diplomatic steps.
Senator williams's Speech
Senator Williams said:
"In so faras part Of what the Sena-
tor from Missouri has just said Is
clarion call TO duty TO stiffen our
sinews and summon up our courage to
see this thing through TO successful
issue. I agree with him most emphat'-
callv. but there is a part Of what ne
said which is an iridescent dream, and
| cannot permit it to pass without en-
tering my protest.
There never was month or week
or an hour or a minute when TINS coun-
try could have suggested terms for a
lust and lasting peace which would not
have been scorned at the Court OF ber-.
lin by the Kaiser and his military and
bureaucratic encourage. That sort Oh
a thing is a mere dream Of what might
have been, a picture Of what cannot be
not even now, much less then.
"We not only could not have laid down
any terms for just and lasting peace
which would have been accepted. but
we could not even lay down any terms
70 prevent the sinking Of our own ships
upon the high seas. We could not Jay
down ANYTHING that would not be kicked
ont of court at Berlin. Why? Because
that crowd had perfect contempt for
the American government and fer the
American people, the contempt that the
skilled and prepared boxer has for a
heavy, beefy fellow who cannot assert
himself. That was their view of US.
THAT is their view of US yet, and
that will remain their view Of US until
upon the plains of France or upon the
high seas we indicate that there Is
something else TO US. II was the con-
terpt that a prepared athlete has in a
cause, even unjust. for an antagonist
whose muscles are fsbby, whose prep
aration has been nothing, and whose
sntagonism can, in the opinion Of the
athlete, be ignored.
Pictures Wilson's Course
81 say that because, otherwise, part
Of what the Senator from Missouri just
said might be a reflection upon the
intended, but in effect. The President
and the Administration did do every
thing that human intellect could con-
ceive for the purpose, il possible, Of
bringing an end to the war. We did
everything that we had a right to do.
The President came TO this chamber
and made that speech which was criti-
cised not only abroad but here in this
chamber as being peace at any price
speech, the celebrated speech in which
he said We must have peace without
victory.
"He travelled the whole gamut up and
down. He allowed this nation TO suffer
humiliation after humiliation. shame
piled upon shame, grazed the very edge
Of cowardice because his heart beat in
unison with the cause OF just and
lasting peace.
Now we are in il, the Senator is right
IN the balance of what he says. We
have got 70 see il through, and as the
Carkies down South say, see IL come
through. We have got TO see il through
not only TO a successful issue of this
war, but while we are about IL 70 a
just and permanent treaty which shall
as far as possible make war cease to
be game of athletes.
we have got 70 see il through 70 a
point where the world can hope that
there shall be peace for some genera
tions st any rate, 70 point where the
civilized world shall say 20 any nation
which goes 20 war without having pre-
yiously submitted the cause in contro-
versy or proposed 10 submit IL 70 fair
and impartial srbitrament, You are an
outlaw nation, you are no longer within
the pale Of international law, you are
outside the pale. you are everybody's
enemy, we shall treat you as such until
you come back 70 your senses.
I'VE Are Going Through With IT.
we are tired Of this. We don't pro-
pose in time of peace 10 prepare for
war always. We propose now in times
Of war 70 prepare for peace, and for a
just and lasting peace, and we are going
through with IL with men and money
and ships, on land and on sea, and in
the air above them both and under the
sea, until We have seen IL through, not
only 20 a peace, but 10 a Just and last
ing peace, righteous peace. Old
Thomas Jefferson said Al one time that
no man was responsible for the right
fulnes OF his conduct. but every man
was responsible for the righteousness
of II. SO IL Is with nations.
Now, agree with the Senator from
Missouri. II seems 20 me that we have
been indulging in endless verbslities
endless criticism, and less attention 20
minute and 20 small matters. The
House committee has just reported TO
the House bill 20 spend some $780,
000. 900 for aeroplsnes and see what we
can do in this war in the quickest pos
sible way. hope and have reason 10