Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-12
TEX OF
WILSON'S
SPEECH



didly applying them, he naturally
feels. that Austria can respond to
the purpose of peace as expressed by
the United States with less embar-
rassment than could Germany. He
would probably have gone much far
Their had it not been for the en-
barrassments of Austria's alliances
and of her dependence upon Ger
many.
After all the test of whether it is
possible for either government to go
any further in this comparison of
views is simple and obvious The
principles to be applied are these:
First, that each part of the final
settlement must be based upon the
essential justice of that particular
case and upon such adjustments as
are most likely to bring a peace that
will be permanent;
Second, that peoples and provinces
are not to be bartered about from
sovereignty to sovereignty as if
they were chattels and pawns in a
game, even the great game, now
forever discredited, of the balance
of power; but that
Third, every territorial settle
ment involved in this war must be
made in the interest and for the
benefit of the populations concernv
ed, and not as part of any mere adj
justment or compromise of claims
amongst rival states and ...
Fourth, that all well-defined ma
tional aspirations shall be accorded
the utmost satisfaction that can
be accorded them without introduce
ing new or perpetuating old ele-
ments of discord and antagonism
that would be likely in time to
break the peace of Europe and con-
sequently of the world
A general peace erected upon such
foundations can be discussed. Until
such a peace can be secured we
have no choice but to go on. So
far as we can judge, these prin-
ciples that we regarded as funda-
mental are already everywhere ac-
cepted as imperative except among
the spokesman of the military and
annexationist party in Germany. If
they have anywhere else been reject
ed. the DIRECTORS have not been suf-
fic.ently numerous or influential to
make their voices audible. The
tragical circumstance is that this
one party in Germany is apparent
~ willing and able to send millions
of men to their death to prevent
what all the world now sees to be
just.
Put Whole Strength IN War
l would not be a true spokesman
of the people OF the United States
If ! did not say once more that we
entered this war upon no small oc-
casion and that we never can back
from course chosen upon principle.
Our resources are in part modified
now, and we shall not pause until
they are modified in their entirety.
Our army is rapidly going tothe fight
in front, and will go more and more
rapidly. Our whole strength will be
put into this war of emancipation
emancipation from the threat and at
tempted mastery of selfish groups of
autocratic rulers-whatever the diff
ficulties and present partial delays.
We are indomitable in our power of
Independent action and can in no.
circumstances consent to live in a
world governed by intrigues and
force We believe that our own de-
sire for a new international order
under which reason and justice and
the common interests of mankind
shall prevail is the desire of enlight-
ened men everywhere. Without that
new order the world will be without
peace and human life will lack toll
cradle conditions of existence and
development Having set our hand
to the task of achieving it, we shall
not turn hack.
1 hope that it is not necessary for
me to add that no word of what l
have said is intended as threat.
That is not the temper of our peo-
pie. 1 have spoken thus only that
the whole world may know the true
spirit of America-that men every
where may know that our passion
for justice and for self-government
is no mere passion of words but
passion which, once set in action,
must be satisfied. The power OF
the United States is a menace to
no nation or people. 1t will never
be used in aggression or for the ag-
grandiZement of any selfish inter-
est of our own. 1t springs out of
freedom and is for the service Of
freedom.