The Benson signal., 1917-12-15

late, more persuasive, and they come
from the hearts of men everywhere.
They insist that the war shall not end
in vindictive action Of any kind that
no nation or people shall be robbed or
punished because the irresponsible
rulers of single country have them
selves done deep and abominable
wrong. 1t is this thought that has
been expressed in the formula, mo
no contributions. no puni
tive indemnities."
Just because this crude formula ex-
presses the instructive judgment as to-
right of plain men everywhere it has
been made diligent use of by the mas
ters of German intrigue to lead the
people of Russia astray-and the peo-
pie Of every other country their
agents could reach-in order that
premature peace might be brought
about before autocracy has been
taught it's final and convincing lesson
and the people of the world put in
control of their own destinies.
But the fact that wrong use has
been made of a just idea is no reason
why a right use should not be made
of it. 1t ought to be brought under
the patronage of it's real friends.
Let it be said again that the autoc-
racy must first be shown the utter
futility of it's claims to power or lead
ership in the modern world. 1t is i'm
possible to apply any standard OF
justice so long as such forces are un-
checked and undefeated as the pres
ent masters of Germany command.
Not until that has been done can
right be set up as arbiter and peace
maker among the nations.
But when that has been done-as
God willing it assuredly will be-we
shall at last be free to do an unprece-
dented thing and this is the time to
avow our purposes to do it. We shall
be free to base peace on generosity
and justice, to the exclusion of all
selfish claims to advantage even on
the part of the victors.
Let there be no misunderstanding
Our present and immediate task is to
win the war and nothing shall turn
us aside from it until it is accom-
plished. Every power and resource we
pOOOOOO, WASLAO1 VI AnCA, VI A4AOAAOJ Va
of materials, is being devoted and
will continue to be devoted to that
purpose until it is achieved. Those
who desire to bring peace about be-
fore that is achieved, counsel to car
ry their advice elsewhere. We will
not entertain it. We shall regard the
war as won only when the German
people say to us, through properly ac-
credited representatives, that they
are ready to agree to a settlement
based upon justice and the reparation
of the wrongs their rulers have done.
They have done wrong to Belgium
which must be repaired. They have
established a power over other lands
and peoples than their oWn-over the
great empire of Austria-Hungary, over
hitherto free Balkan states, over Tur-
key and within Asia-Which must be
relinquished.
Germany's success by skill, by indus
try, by knowledge, by enterprise, we
did not grudge or oppose, but admired
rather. She had built up for herself a
real empire of trade and influence, Sc
cured by the peace of the world. We
were content to abide the rivalries Of
manufacture, science and commerce
that were involved for us in her sue
cess and stand or fall as we had or did
not have the brains and the initiative
to surpaSs her.
But at the moment when she had
conspicuously won her triumphs OF
peace she threw them away to estab
liSh in their stead what the world will
no longer permit to be established
military and political domination by
arms, by which to GUST where she
could not excel the rivals she most
feared and hated.
The peace we make must remedy
that wrong. 1t must deliver the once
fair lands and happy peoples of Bel
gium and northern France from the
Prussian conquest and the Prussian
menace and it must also deliver the
peoples of Austria Hungary, the peo
pies of the Balkans and the peoples
of Turkey, alike in Europe and in Asia
from the impudent and alien domino
tion of the Prussian military and com
mercial autOcracy.
We owe it, however, to ourselves tC
say we do not wish in any way to i'm
pair or to rearrange the AustrO-Hun
gary empire. 1t is no affair of ours
what they do with their own life
either industrially or politically. We
do not purpose or desire to dictate tC
them in any way. We only desire tc
see that their affairs are left in theil
own hands, in all matters, great OF
small. We shall hope to secure fol
the peoples of the Balkan peninsula
and for the people of the Turkish EN-
pire the right and opportunity to make
their own lives safe, their own for
tunes secure against oppression or in
justice and from the dictation of for
eign courts or parties.
No Wrong Against German Empire.
And our attitude and purpose with
regard to Germany herself are of a
like kind. We intend no wrong
against the German empire, no inter
ference with her internal affairs. We
should deem either the one or the 9th.
er absolutely unjustifiable, absolutely
contrary to the principles we have
prOfeSsed to live by and to hold most