The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-01-10
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sentatiyes dealing? For whom are
the representatives of the Central En-
pires speaking? Are they speaking
for the rnajorities of their respective
parliaments or for the minority par
ties, that military and imperialistic
minority which has so far dominated
their whole policy and controlled the
affairs of Turkey and of the Balkan
states which have felt obliged to be-
come their associates in this war?
The Russian representatives have in
sisted, very justly, very wisely, and
in the true spirit of democracy that
the conferences they have been hold
ing with the Teutonic and Turkish
statesmen should be held within open,
not closed doors, and all the world
has been audience as was desired. TO
whom have we been listening then .?
To those who speak the spirit and in
tention of the resolutions of the Ger
man reichstag of the 9th of July
last, the spirit and intention of the
liberal leaders and parties of Ger
many, or to those who persist and
defy that spirit and intention and in
sist upon conquest and subjugation ?
Or are we listening in fact to both
unreconciled and in open and hope
less contradiction These are very
serious and pregnant questions. Upon
the answer to them depends the peace
Of the world.
Praises Lloyd George.
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 Empires, they
have again attempted to acquaint the
world with their objects in the wal
and have again challenged their adj
versaries to say what their objects
are and what sort of settlement they
would deem just and satisfactory.
There is no good reasons why that
challenge should not be responded
to with the utmost candor. We die
not wait for it. 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 definite terms of
settlement must necessarily spring
out of them. Within the last week
Mr.. Lloyd George has spoken with ad-
mirable candor andsin 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
principals, no vagueLess of detail.
The only secrecy of course, 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 defni-
lions. No statesman who has the
least conception Of his responsibility
ought for moment to permit himself
to continue this tragical and appalling
outpouring of blood and treasure I'M
less 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 fol
whom he speaks think them right and
imperative as he does.
Call for Definitions.
There is, moreover, voice calling
for these definitions of principle and
of purpose which is, it seems to me,
more thrilling and more compelling
tran any of the many NOV ng vo c. :
with which the troubled air of the
world is filled. 1t is the voice of the
Russian people. They are PROSTATE
and all but helpless, it would SEEM
before the grim power of Germany
which has hitherto known no relent-
ing and no pity. Their power, appar-
emily, is shattered. And yet theil
soul is not subverient. They will not
yield either in principle or in action
Their conception of what is right
of what is humane and honorable fol
them TO accept has been stated with
frankness, a largeness of view, 8
generosity spirit and a universe
human sympathy which must chal
lenge the admiration of every frient
of mankind; and they have refused Il
compound their ideals or deser