Arizona republican., 1917-08-30
The Presidents Reply to Benedict

The reply of President Wilson to the papal peace note what it was expected to be. It could have been nothing else without devating materially from the presidents message congress in February. Any other reply than that given by the president Ben edict would have indicated radical change of the presidential mind And there has been change of the presidential mind though since February, but since little than two years ago when MT. Wilson proposed peace to the begerents in terms little less definite than those suggested by the
 The world ripe for peace then it is now. but more so There was as little reason then why there should be peace. The against democ- racy great it is It then just essential that Prussianism should overthrown It perhaps the realization by president of his error in proposing peace that has rendered his reply to the pope courteous than those he him. self received from the allies at that time.
 The reply of the president means that in his view and as the spokesman for the allies, in their view peace is to be obtained in of only ways through victory or through a sweeping revolution in Germany. There can be no dealings with the Ger man government; reliance be placed any agreement that might be reached with that govern ment.
 The president clings with tenacity to the hope of a German revolution It apparently him that the will so end, and in a peace with victory Wnlcn ne hlrsen less than a year ago deprecated. In any event. in either view of the president in for long the three years which have been but the beginning.
 Those cognizant of the German character have pointed out the hopeessness of German revolution; students of German history and conditions have agreed that there is no German class that wants change. It has been put into the German fiber through centuries that security to be obtained only by the methods that have been pursued from Frederick II to Wilhelm II. The Germans from the highest to the lowest believe in themselves their strength and in their destiny in their superiority other peoples. So long this belief exists, it folly to talk of German revolution This belief can be removed only by actual, a prospective crushing defeat. And then we would have peace with victory, with without revolution.
 The reply of the president believe, will dispose for many months Of all peace prospects and will render idle all peace talk It be most conyinc- ing to all of that there nothing for to do but buckle down to We must whip the Germans or they will whip The effect of the reply must be stimulating to the American people and must be con- vincing to them, that through fault of their their principal business is war. They must go through with it.
 The president that this country wants nothing material from the We want only an assurance that all peoples may be left free to live their own lives in their way We want no ter rtorial gain and no indemnity. It may be imagined that such thing German revolution might occur and that the Hohenzoerns might become "one with Nineveh and Tyre" that German republic might give the most satisfying assurance that the world and would forever be safe for democracy Then Mir Wilson would be bound to peace but would allies without changes of territorial boundaries and without ndemntes? We have before us a long. winding and complex journey