The Washington herald., 1918-02-12

DSisiun hHu5t pc eNdcuated ana re-
stored. no matter what sacrifices
spd concessions that may involve;
and that national aspirations must
be satisfied. even within his own
empire. in the common interest or
Europe and mankind. II he Is
silent about questions which>touch
the interest and purpose OF his
allies more nearly than they touch
those OF Austria only. 1t must of
course be because he feels con-
strained. ! suppose, to defer to Ger
many and Turkey in the circum-
stances. Seeing and conceding, as
he does. the essential principles In
volyed and the necessity. of can
didly applying them. he naturally
feels that Austria. can respond to
the purpose Of peace as expressed
by the United States with less en-
barrassment than could Germany.
He would probably have gone much
farther had 1t not been for the en-
barrassments Of Austria's alliance
and OF her dependence upon Ger
many. :
Principles to BE Applied.
After all, the test of whether 1t
10 possible for either government
to go any further In this compari-
son or 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 prov
incesrare not to be bartered about
from sovereignty to sovereignty as
II they were mere chattels. and
pawns in 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 con-
cerned. and not as a part of. any
mere adjustment or compromise
Of claims amongst rival states;
and
Fourth, that all we'll defined ma
tonal aspirations shall be accorded
the utmost satisfaction that can be
accorded them without, introducing
new or perpetuating old elements
OF discord and antagonism that
would be likely in time to break
the peace Of Europe and conse-
quently Of the world.
A general peace erected upon
such foundations can be discussed.
Until such q peace can be secured
We have no choice but to go on.
So far as We can Judge, these
principles that we regard as fun
damental are already everywhere
accepted as imperative excepts
among the spokesmen of the mill
tary and annexationist party In
Germany. II they have anywhere
else been rejected. the objectors
have not been sufficiently ,nuiner-
Gus or influential to, make their
voices audible. The tragicaI cir
ctimstance Is that this one party In
Germany is apparently willing and
able TO send millions Of men to
their death to prevent what all the
world now sees TO be Just.
would not be true spokesman
OF the people of the United States
IL ! did not say once more that we
entered this war upon no small
occasion. and that we can never
turn back from q course chosen
upon principle.
Whole Strength Pledged.
Our resources are in part mo
bilized now, and we shall not
pause until they are mobilized in
their entirety. Our armies are
rapidly going to the fighting front,
and will go more and more rapid
ly. Our whole strength will be
put into this war Of emancipation
emancipation from the threat and
attempted mastery Of selfish
groups OF autocratic rulers-what-
ever the difficulties 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 intrigue 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
Hghtened men everywhere. With
out that new order the world will
be without peace and human life
will lack tolerable conditions of
existence and development. Hav-
ing set our hand to the task OF
achieving 1t. we shall not turn
back.
hope that It Is not necessary for
me to add that no word Of what
have said is intended as q 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
everywhere may know that our pas
sion for justice and for self-gov-
ernment is no mere passion of
words, but a 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 aggrandizeInent OF any
selfish interest Of our own. II
springs out OF freedom and is for
the service of freedom.