The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-11-12
THE WAR ENDS; NOW
THE PEACE?

The curtain has fallen on the main
ect If the greatest drama in all MS
tory.
The battle between autocracE ana
democracy which has been staged OH
rho bat,letields OF eastern France anu
Belgium has been ended.
T, remains only nov to re-eStaoPsh
the world in order and wisdom anu
RI nIace the feet of the new repuoHcS
nf Europe on the pathways OF peace
and progress.
We must not assume that all 'ne
nuestions Of the war have been settled
On the contrary. many new anu per-
olexins questions are bound 70 rise
and as TO these there may be sharp
s;rerc,ce Of opinion among those who
have heretofore been allies. lac IN
telligencer believes. however. that 'he
great struggle through which they
have all passed. the sacrifices tna1
= have been made in common, and the
. now bonds OF union which they nave
been able 70 create will be enough 10
hold Them together IN harmonious
q acYion until their great task Is com
Melted Democracy has tr:un'phed IN
RI, world and now democracy must
n;ake good. II must demonstrate tha'
democratic nations can live IN peace
and harmony that they can develop
their opportunities. establish ana
!. maintain trad relations. control the
70 ccas for the benefit of the world and
. develop the unteveloped lands ana
, new territories Of the earth in spirl'
t of fairness 10 all and OF selfish auVant
, age 70 none.
d, Den,ocracIas are essentially peace
= fri Countries in which political
: power rests with the people do no'
rheerfully and continually burden
themselves with expenses OF large
standing army and large military rs
Establishments. They are jealous OF tHs
creation Of military forces which may
b.. used 20 coerce the peopl1 them
selves as they were used in German4
and Austria, but it does not neces
sarily follow that democracies VIII no
make war when they feel that thel'
RIGHTS have been violated. their trad
ing facilities have been hampered ant
their opportunities for normal develop
nent have been throttled We mus
not lose sight, moreover, OF the tac
:. that throughout Central Europe there
are still many aristocratic clemens
which, from time TO time. VIII turf
with longing eyes on the days OF tn
Hapsburgs, Hohenzollerns and Roman
offs. These elements will continue Il
be powerful. and for many years WI!
be active. The peace conditions 10 o.
created must be made. bearing in mine
some OF these difficulties which tn
new republics of Central Europe vii
meet.
America has taken a prominent. no
to say a leading. part in this war Ou
.ocriflces OF men have been small a
COMPARED with those OF France an
Great Britain. 5pt the material heI
VIC gave the Allies was enormous,
rot OF dec.sire value. This is not IN
time 70 measure the contributions
ANY, ono OF the opponents Of German
w an exact yard stick. We did VIVA
,su 20 US. little late. perhaps. but W
finally did it-and did It we'll. Gu
part In the peace conference will b
an important one, but not necessar1l
a controlling one. The sacrifices
o,ea: Britain, OF France and OF Re
Eum have been SO immeasurabl
greater than or own that We cannc
properly think < peace that does NJ
gi-e them compensation. and IN soH
small way make good the enormor
damage chat has been done then
They arc entitled to FIRST place In ii
peace council and the sober good sens
OF tho American people will final
demand that they have first plac
= Our part should be to mitigate tern
Of extreme severity and to try