Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23


Of a nation which has run amuck. The
fundamental explanation of her aber-
rations, of her reputation OF right and
law. of the pitiless and murderous war
recognize the equal individuality of
other nations and the limits to conduct
set by reciprocal obligations between
them, = :
Fighting for Equal Rights.
America is fighting for the equal
rights of civilized states. Looking at
we may say America is fighting against
German domination. Germany has
proclaimed equally in practice and in
theory that the world is her oyster and
she will open it. But the other nations
of the world decline the role of re-
naming mere inert material for abb
sorption or domination by Germany
Any one who has followed European
diplomacy since the Franco-Prussian
wan, and especially since the twentieth
century opened, will be impressed with
the evidence on every side Of Germany's
ntentfon TO dictate to Europe. Her
great military power inspired fear. and
the dread of a general war generally
brought about concessions in her favor.
This Is the way in which she aided
Austrfa-Hungary in the annexation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this is
the way in which in 1914 she thought
70 bring about the subsection of Serbia
mus opening up road direct from Ber-
lin through Belgrade to ConstantinopIe
and Basdad-
Interests Too Vital.
Tins time. however, Russia felt her
interests in the Balkans too vital to he
IGNORED. and Germany's final step In
the Plan to establish her ascendancy
In mfd-Europe precipitated the world
war, The German government claims
thatft endeayored to avoid war, and il
= psobAbay general belief among the
GerHaN people that the emperor was
In St4 ASerse to- war. Men and gov
ernuentS mnst, however be Judged not
by their sayings. but by their actions.
Ana the gravamen OF the indictment
against Germany is that, even IL she
wished to avoid war. the one condition
On whfchf she was willing to preserve
peace was shat she should be allowed
70 dece4te to the other nations of Eu-
rope thu conditions on which that peace
could sses maintained ~
: Would Menace Nations.
The predominsnce Of Germany in Eu-
rops means the predominance of Ger
nation in Europe. Asia or America
would be immune from the aggressions
OF such exorbitAnt and lawless power
We Americans have Joined in the fight
against German domination. The issue
repaelit, but II 10 no less the security
Of every other nation in the world. :
The supreme condition ON which the
Unttsd States and the European pow
ers who are waging war against Ger
manT-can consent to peace IL the thor
eugh defeat of Germany. She must be
compelled to evacuate northeastern
France, Belgium and the other allied
now occupy. The rectidcation of the
war map of Europe in the interest of
the allies is the first task to which
they must address themselves, and
there can be no peace worth while un-
til that task has been accomplished.
War IL an appeal to arms The first
business Of the United States and her
European allies is to overcome the
military power of Germany and her
confederateA
Must XIII Submarine.
The second condition of peace is to
put the subnsrine out of business as
an fnstrumentaiity Of war The sub
marine cannot be used in war with
out violating the practices. rules. laws
and principles which Christian cfviliza-
ton has slowly and painfully established
for the restraint of belligerents and the
protection of neutrals and non-com-
batants in time CT war. No nation IS
more interested IN the preservation Of
international law and In the defense of
the rights of neutrais than the United
States of America We cannot AFFORD
therefore, to close the war until we have
driven from the ocean the pirate and
ASSASSIN submarine.
In this matter the interests of our
own national defense combine and
coalesce with the majesty and inyioIa-
binty Of law, justice and humanity.
But there is a third condition of peace
In All German pronunciamentos on the
subject of peace you will find the de-
mand for the security of Germany and
guarantees for the future. BY these
phrases, however. German statesmen and
writer's always mean such annexations
OF teryitcry, such rectihcations of from
tier. such additions of coastline. and
such monopoly Of natural resources as
VIII IN any future contingency make
Germany predominant. not merely over
any one nation. but over any cpmbina-
ton Of European nations.
Ignores All Rights.
In ibis program the rights and Just
security of other nations and the guar
antees to which they are equally en-
titled are absolutely ignored. And 1t
would not be unnatural II writer's in
some pr. these countries should advo-
cate. By way OF retaliation. similar
chonping Up Of German territory and a
similar appropriation of German re-
fhsra can. however. be no permanent
internafiona settlement of the present
world contest along these lines Ger
many Is. indeed. entitled to security In
she future: Germany should. indeed
have guarantees: but this security and
those guarantees are not more tmpera-
tive the case OF Germany than they
are In The case Of England, France or
the United States. All civilized nations
are seualiy entitled to immunity from
the horrors of war and the menace m
overniastertne power centered in a single
state or group of states
AFFIRMATIVE WINS DEBATE.