The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-22
The Presidents Address.

j no 0T08IOSuS0 S%0oT0Oos
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-For tn
econd time in history the presiden
# the United States today addresse
session Of the senate.
President Wilson's speech follows
Gentlemen of the Senate:
''On the eighteenth of December
last l addressed an identical note
to the governments of the ma
tions now at war requesting them
to state, more definitely than
they had yet been stated by
either group Of belligerents. the
terms upon which they would
deem 1t possible to make peace.
I spoke on behalf Of humanity
and of the rights Of all neutral
nations like our own, many of
whose most vital interests, the
war puts in constant Jeopardy.
The central powers united in
reply which stated merely that
they were ready to meet their
antagonists in conference to dis
cuss terms of peace. The en-
tente powers have replied more
definitely and have stated In gen
ernI terms indeed, but with sum
clent ,deflniteness to apply de-,
tails, the arrangements. guaran-
tees and acts of reparation which
they deem to be the indispen-
sable conditions of q satisfactory
settlement.
I'VE are that much nearer q
definite discussion Of the peace
which shall end the present war.
We are that much nearer dect-
sion Of international concert
which must thereafter hold the
world at peace.
'Tn every discussion of peace
that must end this war It
: is taken for granted that that
peace must be followed by some
definite concert of power which
will make it virtually impossible
that any such catastrophe should
ever overwhelm us again. Every
lover Of mankind, every sane and
thoughtful man must take that
for granted.
81 have sought this oppor-
tunity to address you because /
thought that l owed it to you as
the council associated with me in
the final determination of our
international obligations to dis
close to you without reserve the.
though and purpose that have
been taking form in my mind in
regard the duty of our govern
ment in days to come whhen it
may be necessary to lay afresh
and upon a new plan the founda-
tions Of peace among the nations.
U. s. Should Take Part.
'Tt is inconceivable that the
people of the United States
should play no part in that great
enterprise. To take part in such
a service will be the opportunity
for which they have sought to
prepare themselves by the very
principles and purposes of their
polity and the approved prac-
tices of their government ever
since the days when they set up
a new nation in the high and
honorable hope that it might in
all that it was and did show
mankind the way to liberty.
"They cannot in honor with
hold the service to which they
are now about to be challenged.
They do not wish to withhold it.
But they owe 1t to themselves
and to other nations Of the world
to state the conditions under
which they will feel free to rem
der it.
THAT service Is nothing less
than this to add their authority
and their power to the authority
and force Of other nations to
guarantee peace and justice
throughout the world.
such a settlement cannot now
be long postponed. 1t is right
that before it comes this govern
ment should frankly formulate
the conditions upon which it
would feel justified in asking our
people to approve its formal and
solemn adherence to league for
peace.
"I am here to attempt to state
those conditions.
1.-The present war must first
be ended; but we owe it to cam
dor and to just regard for the
opinion of mankind to say that
so far as our participation in
guarantees of future peace is
concerned, it makes great deal
of difference in what way and
upon what terms 1t is ended.
The treaties and the agreements
which bring 1t to an end must
Ombody terms which viii create