Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-04
Americas War Against Autocracy.

In one respect the Presidents address
to Congress Monday night set the
United States at the head of the anti
! Teutonic alliance. In terms that admit
of no question he made it plain that in
the view of this country peace and Sc
curity cannot be obtained by the forces
of democracy until the autocratic power
now controlling the people Of Germany
is eliminated. Carefully distinguish
ing between the German people and the
German government. he laid down the
proposition that the latter is the avowed
and implacable enemy of this country
He said:
Neutrality is no longer feasible or
desirable where the peace Of the world
is involved and the freedom of its pco-
pies, and menace to that peace and
freedom lies in the existence of auto
cratic governments backed by organized
force which is controlled wholly by their
will. not by the will of their people.
We have no quarrel with the
German people. A steadfast concert
for peace can never be maintained except
by a partnership of democratic nations.
No autocratic government could be
trusted to keep faith within it or OBJ
serve its covenants One Of the
things that has served to convince us
that the Prussian autoeracy was not and
could never be our friend is that from
the very outset of the present war it has
filed our unsuspecting communities and
even our Offices Of government with
spies, and set criminal intrigues every
where afoot against our national unity
of council, our peace within and with
out, our industries and our commerce.
But they have played their
part in serving to convince us at Hast
that that government entertains no real
friendship for us and means to act
against our peace and security at it's
convenience. We are now ac-
eepting this challenge of hostile pur-
pose because we know that in such
government, following such methods,
we can never have a friend; and that
in the presence of its organized power.
always lying in wait to accomplish we
know not what purpose, there can be no
assured security for the democratic gov
ernments Of the world. We are now
about to accept gage Of battle with this
natural foe to liberty, and shall, if nee
ton to check and nullify its prcten-
sions and Its power. The world
must be made safe for democracy"
Obviously the Presidents inspiration
is one Of democracy against autocracy.
There is no possible reading of his
proclamation Of world liberty save in
terms Of opposition to the present sys-
tenn Of government in Germany. None
of the entente powers has gone so far
as to declare that this war is a war against
autocracy. None Of them, indeed, save
France, could have made such state
ment, for all save her are or were at
the time Of the answer to the German
peace terms monarchical in organiza
ton. Since then Russia has thrown off
the rule of the ear and has become
true democracy. The British and Ital-
ian monarchies are liberal, even demo-
cratic At this moment autocraey cen
tiers in Berlin and Vienna, chiefly in the
former.
Thus the United States enters this
war as the champion not merely of the
principles of international law and Of
certain rights at sea, but of the prin-
eiple of democracy, and proclaims in as
plain terms as possible through the
words of its chief executive the purpose
to wage war with the utmost of its power
to the end of removing from authority
a government which it holds to be dam
gerous to the peace of the world and
to the freedom of mankind.