Mexico Missouri message., 1917-12-27
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.

The United States is in the war to
the fnish-and that finish must be the
overthrow of the Prussian military
desPotism, the liberation and restora-
don Of the peoples 1t has enslaved
and reparation for the material dam
age its armies have done. When this
is assured the United States will in
sist on a peace that is based on gen.
erosity and justice to all alike, ex-
Guiding all selfish claims to advantage
even on the part Of the victors. Mean
while Austria-Hungary must be form
ally declared our foe in the war, and
"our present and immediate task" is
to win that war.
Such in a few words is the message
Of President Wilson to congress, to
America, and especially to the world.
He leaves no doubt Of the govern
ments and the nations humanitarian
aims, and he makes equally plain the
determination never to make peace
with the present rulers Of Germany
who have done such deep and abom-
Unable wrong" The president ex-
pressly disavows any intention to i'm
pair or rearrange the Austro-H -Hunga-
rian empire, but says that to the
AustrO-Hungarians should be restored
Independent control of their own af-
fairs, and AYERS that the Balkan states
and Turkey should be secured against
foreign oppression or injustice. Mr..
Wilson's polished diction does not con-
ceal his contempt for the pacifists, the
traitors and others who seek to ham,
per the nation ina the prosecution of
the war. When everyone else within
sound Of his voice arose and cheered
the presidents impassioned statements,
Senator La Toilette, Representative
Mason and one or two more sulked ST.
lent in their seats. They are easily
classified.
Message Warmly Approved.
Instant approval Of the message was
general throughout the United States,
and 1t received the hearty endorse
ment of the British and South Ameri-
can press, though some of the London
papers, notably the Times, are skep-
teal about the distinction the presi-
dent still makes between the German
rulers and the German people. It must
be confessed a great many Americans
also feel the German people are not
so gulltless as Mr.. Wilson represents
them.
Congress lost little time in starting
proceedings for formal declaration of
war against Austro-H Hungary, and gov
ernment agents throughout the coun-
try at once began preparing to handle
the million and half enemy aliens
which it adds. to the list. AS tens of
thousands of -Hungarians have
been employed in the mines of Amer
lea, there is danger of a serious short
age of mine labor. 1t is likely a good
deal of discrimination will be used In
dealing with such subjects of the dual
monarchy, as the Bohemians and vari-
Gus Slavic races, who have no SYM
pathy with the autocracy of their
rulers.
BolsheViki Peace Efforts.
The efforts of the Russian bolshe-
Wiki to bring about general cessation
Of fighting was not markedly success
, full last week. Large numbers of Rus
sian troops were withdrawn from the
front lines, and Austro-Hungary for
mally approved of the armistice plan;
but when the representatives of
the Russians began discussion of de-
tails with the Germans they met with
quick check. Their first two stipu-
lations were that the enemy should
not undertake to send forces from
the Russian front to the front OF Rus
sia's allies. and that the German de.
tachments should be withdrawn from