The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-01-25

Upon the answer to them depends tno
peace Of the world.
"But whatever the results OF the
parleys at Brest-Litovsk, whatever
the confusions of counsel and OF pur-
pose in the utterances Of the spokes-
men of the Central Powers, they have
again attempted to acquafnt the
world with their objects in the war
and have again challenged their adj
versaries to say what their objects
are and what sort of settlement tney
would deem just and satisfactory.
There is no good reason why that
challenge should not be responded to,
and responded to with the utmost can
dor, We die not wait for 1t. Not once,
but again and again, we have laid our
whole thought and purpose before the
world, not in general terms only, but
each time with sufficient definition to
make it clear what sort OF detlnltlve
terms of settlement must necessarily
spring out Of them.
"The moral climax of this, the Gull
minating and final war for human lib
erty has come" said the President in
ending his address, land they (peo-
pie of the United States), are ready
to put their own strength, their own
highest purpose, their own integrity
and devotion to the test"
within the last week Mr.. Lloyd
George has spoken with admirable
candor and in admirable spirit for
the people and government of Great
Britain. There is no confusion OF
counsel among the adversaries OF
the Central Powers, no uncertainty of
principle, no vagueness of detail.
The only secrecy Of counsel, the only
lack of fearless frankness, the only
failure to make definite statement OF
the objects of the war, lies with Ger
many and her allies.
"The issues of life and death hang
upon these definitions. No statesman
who has the least conception of his re-
sponsibility ought for moment to
permit himself to continue this tag
ical and appalling outpouring of Blood
and treasure, unless he is sure beyond
peradventure that the objects OF the
vital sacrifice are part and parcel OF
the very life of society and that the
people for whom he speaks think them
right and imperative as he does.
"There is, moreover, a voice call
ing for these definitions of principle
and of purpose which is, it seems to
me, more thrilling and more COMPEL
ing than any of the many moving
voices with which the troubled air OF
the world is filled. 1t is the voice of
the Russian people. They are pros
trate and all but helpless, it would
seem, before the grim power OF Ger
many, which has hitherto known no
relenting and no pity. Their power,
apparently, is shattered. And yet
their soul is not subservient. They
will not yield either in principle or in
action. Their conception of what is
right, of what 1t is humane and honor
able for them to accept, has been
stated with a frankness, a largeness
of view, a generosity of spirit and a
universal human sympathy which
must CHdll0uS0 LILO duAAh dIAOh u "
cry friend of mankind; and they have
refused to compound their ideals or
desert others that they themselves
may be safe.
"They call to us to say what 1t Is
that we desire, in what, if in any
thing, our purpose and our spirit differ
from theirs; and l believe that the
people of the United States would
wish me to respond with utter simple
fly and frankness. Whether their
present leaders believe it or not, 1t Is
our heartfelt desire and hope that
some way may be opened whereby we
may be privileged to assist the people
of Russia to attain their utmost hope
of liberty and ordered peace.
at will be our wish and purpose
that the processes Of peace, when
they are begun, shall be absolutely
open and that they shall involve and
permit henceforth no secret under
standings Of any kind. The day of
conquest and aggrandizement is gone
BY; so is also the day Of secret cove
nants entered into in the interest Of
particular goTernmsuts and likely at