South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-12
'BASTlLLE" DAY AND PRIEST WILSON'S
DECLARATION or INDEPENDENCE.
FOR THE WORLD

The movement naugurated in Washington, with
Prest William Howard Taft head. for the United
States to return the compliment Of France for its OBJ
Of Independence day by celebrating Frances
"Bastiue" day. dttngly the heels of Pres't
Fourth july speech Nt Vernon. That adj
dress has we'll been christened the Declaration
dependence o World and might well be read at
each Of the "Bastille" celebrations
Indeed. il would a thing. if the American and
allied war aims forth by the president,
cededy leader present allied thought. could be
printed attractive form and hung up i'm every home
and every place Of public assemblage world a
frequent and careful porusaI them would
education the basic principles of government for
those who given thought TO such matters.
It would help all hold clearly mind the big things
which all fighting.
'First-The destruction Of any arbitrary
powe- anywhere that separately, secretly
and of its single choice. disturb the peace of
world: o II it be presently
stroyed, the least its reduction 10 virtual
impotence.
whether OF territory Of sovereignty, OF econo-
mic arrangement. o. political relationship.
upon the basis OF the free acceptance of that
settlement by the people Immediately concern
ed and not upon the basis OF the material IN
terest or advantage Of any other nation or
people which may desire a different settlement
for the sake of its own exterior influence
mastery.
"Thrd-Tho consent OF all nations to be gov
IN their conduct toward each other by
the same principles OF honor OF respect
for the common law OF civilized society that
govern the individual citizens o al modern
in their relations with another;
the end that an promises and covenants may
be sacredIv observed no private pIots or CON
spiraces Matched, selfish injuries wrought
with impunity. and mutual trust established
upon the handsome foundations of a mutual
respect for right.
"Fourth-The establishments of an organiza-
ton Of peace which shall make il certain that
the combined power of free nations will check
every invasion of right and serve TO make
peace and justice the secure by afford
ing a definite tribunal of opinion TO which all
submit and 10y which every international
readiustmeut that cannot he amicably agreed
upon 10y the peoples directly concerned shall be
sanctioned
There question that this declaration expresses
the matured opinion the president has
merely into precise and polished English the ideas
that near> all Americans speak or write have ut
tered over and again They might be put bluntly
follows
First mHi,arsm must be destroyed
second on peoples shall freely determine
their
Third. governments must act as squarelv and
decenty Individuals
Fourth, there must be am armed league OF
nations enforce peuce.
There is nothing in these statements to occasion any
IN America They as natural as the air We
breathe. They "a part OF political atmosphere.
We surprised only when discover that they sur
prise certain other nations races which have not
travelled far along the road of poucal evolution.
Eventually DO doubt. they VIII be accepted
everywhere The principles which our own govern
ment was founded VIII he recognized and applied a.
our fofefaJhers believed they would throughout the
earth
That IS what ve 6ghtins for generously and con
hden' ia this second American revolution. which is
"orld-reroluuon That makes another French revou-
zion We lighting shoulder TO shoulder today for
exactly the same principles t dtting that compIi-
rnents should be- exchanged and especially. when
france and England act frs- they have with refer.
enee 10 the Fourth OF July we may feel like ceIe-
oratng the granting 10y old King John OF that charter
or all our Nbertes-AIagna Charts
RUSSIAN INTERVENTION