Macon beacon., 1917-06-22

They have regarded the smaller states
iu particular and the peoples SIN
could hc overwhelmed by force. o.
their natural tools and Instruments u
domination. Their purpose has lon
been ayowcd.
I The demands made by Austria upnl
Serbia We're a mere single step IN
plnn which compassed Europe am
Asia. from Berlin TO Bagdad The,
hoped those demands might not arous'
Europe. but they meant TO press then
/ whether they did or not, for they
thought themselves ready for the fna
/ issue Of arms.
Vast Empire Planned.
/ Their plan was 10 throw n broad belt
of German military power and political
| control across the very center Of Eu-
rope and beyond the Mediterranean In
10 the heart Of Asia and Austria-H Hun
gary was 10 be as much their tool and
pawn as Serbia or Bulgaria or Turkey
or the ponderous states Of the East.
The dream had It's heart at Berlin II
could have had n heart nowhere else =!
II rejected the Idea Of solidarity Of
race entirely. The choice Of peoples
pnyed no part in 1t AT all. They ar
IDENTITY desired 10 direct their own af-
fairs, would be satisfied only by undis-
puted independence. They could be
kept quiet only by the presence or the
constant threat Of armed men The
German military statesmen had reck-
oned with all that and were ready to
deal with It In their own way.
And they have actually carried the
greater part Of that amazing plan into
execution Look how things stand.
Austria Is at their mercy. II has acted,
not upon It's own initiative or upon the
choice of It's own people, but at Ber-
Inns dIctation ever since the war be-
gan. It's people now desire peace, but
cannot hnve 1t until leave Is granted
from Berlin. The so-called central
powers are in fact but single power.
Serbia Is at It's mercy, should It's hands
be but for moment freed. From
Hamburg to the Persian gulf the net
Is spread
Why Berlin Seeks Peace.
Is 1t not easy to understand the eng
erness for peace that has been mani
tested from Berlin ever since the snare
was set and sprungf Peace, peace,
peace has been the talk OF her foreign
office for now n year and more; not
peace upon her own initiative, but up
on the initiative OF the nations over
which she now deems herself to hold |
the advantage. Through all sorts Of
II has come to me, and In all |
sorts OF guises but never with the |
terms disclosed which the German gov
nrnment would be willing to accept. |
Ihnt government still holds valuable |
part OF France, though with slowly re-
axlng grasp, and practically the whole
,f Belgium. 1t cannot go further; 1t
iare not 90 back. 1t wishes to close
IS bargain before It Is too late and It
has little left to offer for the pound of
1esh It will demand.
Ihe military masters under whom
Germany is bleeding see very clearly
o what point Fate has brought them.
+ they fall back or are forced back
IN inch, their power both abroad and
It home will fall to pieces like
louse OF cards. If they can se-
ure peace now with the immense ad-
antages still In their hands which
hey have up to this point apparently
aimed, they will have justified them
elves before the German people; they
I'LL have gained by force what they
romlsed to gain by It: an immense
expansion OF German power, an i'm
tense enlargement Of German indus
-ial and commercial opportunities. If
hey fall their people will thrust them
side; government accountable to
le people themselves will be set up
! Germany as II has been in England.
the United States, In France, and
all the great countries of the mod
IN time except Germany. If they sue
Aed they are safe and Germany and
10 world are undone If they fail Ger
any Is saved and the world will be at
hace. II they succeed, we and all
lie rest Of the world must remain
med, ms they will remain, and must
axe ready for the next step OF ag-
'eSslon; If they fail, the world may
llte for peace and Germany may be
the union. {
Seek to Deceive World. |
The present particular aim Of the q
nsters Of Germany Is to deceive all
ose who throughout the world stand !
r the rights of peoples and the self t
'vernment of nations; for they see s
hat immense strength the forces OF
stice and of liberalism are gathering t
It Of this war. n
The sinister intrigue is being no less o
lively conducted in this country than 8
Russia and in every country in Eu
pc to which the agents and dupes of D
Q imperial German government can s
t access. g
United States In War for Freedom. |,
The great fact that stands out above O
the rest is that this is n Peoples a
II, a war for freedom and justice and "
lf-government amongst all the nm. n