The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-09-28
WILSON'S ADDRESS
Continued from Page One.)


not clear ut ;hr outset: but they ar
cl.rr now. The war has lasted more
,han four years and the whole world
has been drawn int" II. tn" common
will Of mankind has been substituted
r"T tn" particular purposes of !ndiN!dual
states. Individual statesmen may have
started The conflict, neither they nor
their opponents can stop il rs they
,,l"asr. II has hrcnrnr Il peoples war.
and peoples Of Ill sorts ;u!u races. Of
every degree IF power and variety "t
fortune ar involved in its sweeping
processes nr change and settlement. We
came int" II when its character had lH-
come fully defined ami /; was plain
that no nation could stand apart or BE-
indifferent |" its outcome. Its ciEtl-
l"nsc drove to the heart uf everything
We cared for and lived for. our broth
crS FROM many lands. as we'll Us our
own murdered dead under the
sea- calling /" us. and We re-
spunlrL ticrccly. and of course
The air was clear about US. We silw
things in their full. convincing proper
tions as th"y were: and We have seen
them with steady eyes and unchaus]ng
comprehension Every since. We accepted
tho issues IF the war AZ facts. not as
ANY group Of ulru either here or else
where had defined them and We can ac-
ccpt no outcome which does not squarcly
meet and settle them Those issues are
these:
Shall tho military power Of any na
ton or group OF nations be suffered 10
determine the fortunes OF peoples over
whom They have II" right to rule en-
ccpt the right Of force?
Shall st ronS nations be free u wrong
weak nations and make them subject 10
their purpose and interest:
shall peoples be ruled and domi-
mated. even in their own internal uf
fairs. by arbitrary and irresponsible
force or by their own Will and choice:
Shall there be a common standard
OF night AMI privilege for all peoples and
nations or shall the strong do rs they
will and The weak suffer without TT
dress:
Shall the association of right be hap
hazard and by casual alliance or shall
there be n common concert In oblige the
observance % common rights?
no man. no group Of men, chose these
Ia be tho issues Of the struggle. They
ara the issues OF il: and they must be
settled by no arrangement or conpro-
mise or adjustment OF interests. but
definitely and once for nll. and with L
principle that the interest OF the weak
est Is as sacred as the interest Of the
strongest.
This is what We mean when We speak
OF Il permanent peace. II we speak sim
ccrcly. intelugcntly. and with r'E
knowlcdgo and comprehension OF the
matter VIC deal with
we arc all agreed that there can be
no peace obtained by any Kind Of bar
gain or compromise with the govern
ments Of the central empires because VIC
have dealt with them already and have
seen them deal with other governments
that were parties to this struggle. a.
krs-st -l.itovSk and Eucharist. They have
convinced US that they an, without honor
and do not intend justice. They OBJ
serve no covenants. accept no princlpis
but force and their own interest w"
cannot come to terms with them TheY
have made It impossible. The German
people must by this time be- fully aware
that we cannot accept the word of those
who forced this war upon Us. We do
not think the same thoughts Or speak the
same language OF agreement.
1T Is Of capital importance that We
should also be explicitly agreed that
no peace shall be obtained by any kind
of compromise or abatement OF tho prIn-
ciples ue have avowcd as The principe
Tor which We arc lighting. There shall
exist no doubt about that aul. there
fore going to take the liberty OF speak
ing with the utmost frankncSS about tho
practical implications that are involved
in it
Ii il be in decd and, IN truth the COM
mon object Of the governments assoc
ciatcd against Germany and of the ma
tons whom they govern as ! believe
il TO be, to achieve by the coming set
tlemcnts O secure and lasting peace. II
will be necessary that all who sit down
at the peace table shall come ready and
willing TO pay the price. the only price,
that will procure it; and ready ana Will
ing also to create in some virllc laShinn
the only lnstrllnentality by when II can
be made certain that the agreements 81
tho r.,are will be honorcd and fulfilled.
That price Is impartial justice IN
cycry item OF settlement. no matter
whose interests Is crossed: anG not only
impartial justice. but ulsn the satiSthc-
,tio1 Of the several peoples whose Tor
tunes are dealth with That indispEn-
sable fundamentally is L league OF
nations formed under covenants thal
will be cfricacious. Without such Ill III
strumentality, by which the peace ~ the
world can be guaranteed. peace Will rest
IN r,,r1 upon the word of outlaws and
ONLY upon that word. For Germany
will have to redeem her character. not BY
what happens at tho peace table but oy
what follows
And as l see IL the constitution OF
that league OF nations and tho clcnr
dctiuition OF its objects must be 4 part.
is in a sens, tho most essential pLrt. OK
the peace settlement itself 1t cannot
be formed now. If formed now it would
be merely a new alliance confined to the
nations associated against common
enemy. 1t Is not likely that Il could he
FORMED after tho settlement. 1t is nee
cssary To- guarantee tho peace; and the
neaec cannot be guaranteed rs an alter
thought. The reason. to speak in plain
terms again. why IL must he guaranteed,
is that there will be parties I" tho peace
whose promises have proved urtrust-
worthy. and means must be found IN
connection with the peace settlement
itself TO remove that source OF iIs;"-
cnrity. 1t would bc folly {" l"av" I'M
guarantee to the subsequent voluntary
action Of the governments We have Seen
destroy Russia and deceive lsunania!
4 al - It