Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-01-21
MIR. RYAN.s ADDRESS.


revolution that took place in Turkey
in January, 1913, when the old rulers
were displaced by the Young
Turks" Many people in this coun-
try rejoiced at the overthrow of the
old regime, because they anticipated
improvement in the Turkish gov
eminent, which government had for
centuries oppressed the people and
had been responsible for innumer-
able wars. But in the judgment Of
Mr.. Ryan, the overthrow Of the old
Turkish government was a part of
the program of Germany and that it
was really the first great move of
this great war. The Turkish govern
ment, as constituted prior to the
revolution, was friendly to Great
Britain and France. That was an
intolerable situation to Germany
and it was very necessary that Turk
ey should be right before active hos
tilities We're inaugurated. The con-
spiracy, therefore, that resulted in
overthrowing the old Turkish regime
was coicocted in Berlin and not in
Constantinople, as was generally be-
lieved at the time. This is not the
language of Mr.. Ryan, but it con-
veys the ideas he expressed, and the
logic of his argument along this
line is irrefutable
Another point that Mr.. Ryan drove
home is worth the careful and
thoughtful consideration of the
American people, The Freeman
Journal wants to say for itself that
it believes Mr.. Ryan is the keenest.
best informed and most logical speak
err who ever addressed a Webster
City audience upon the subjects
treated and had first hand informa-
ton gained from personal expert
ence. He said one of the things that
troubled him greatly since arriving in
this country from Constantinople is
the prevailing feeling here that Ger
many cannot win. Our people do not
realize the task they have undertake
en-. 1t is not enough for us to do our
bit We must do our best. Germany
has succeeded, through intrigue and
fighting, in putting Russia, Rou-
Serbia and the other Balkan
states out of the war and has Italy
backed up to where she cannot do
effective work. 1t is now the evil
dent purpose of the German govern
ment to concentrate every possible
pressure she can upon the western
front in France and it is the Ger
man hope that she can crush France
before the United States can get
enough men upon French territory
to thwart this German plan. Mr.
Ryan is not a pessimist, nor one who
sees the dark side first, but it is
quite plain from what he said and
the manner in which he said it, that
he has grave doubts of the ability of
France and Great Britain to hold
Germany until the United States can
give them effective assistance. The
Freeman-J Journal does not wish to
quote Mr.. Ryan as saying SO. He
iidn't do that. But to the mind OF
his writer he conveys the idea that
le feared such results. In that
svent-the crushing of France-Ger-
many hopes that the war will close |
With a draw SO far as the United |
States and Great Britain are con-
;erned.
1t is quite evident that Mr.. Ryan
s uneasy in his mind over the self
attitude of the people of
his country and that he fears this
lttitude is going to cost us dearly
before the great world conflict is
'nded. 1t is quite evident, too, that
'1r. Ryan does not expect this ,tobe
he last great war. 1t may be the
asst of the present century, but the
dement's in the far east and the
Balkans are such that unless the re-
igious unrest can be eliminated
here must be wars and wars.
There is one observation dropped
". Mr.. Ryan to which the Freeman
ournal takes exception. In speak
ng Of the newspapers, he referred to
he unreliability OF the news service,
that the editors purposely
ranged the big heads to confuse
he reader and to deceive the public
n order that more papers might be
old. That imputation is unfair.
here may be some editors guilty of
UGH conduct, just as there are some
reachers and other religious"
5Orkers who care more for the dol