The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-05

Thus, then, Is our concepllon OF
the great struggle in which We are
engaged. The plot is written plain
upon every scene and every act OF the
supreme tragedy. On the one hand
stand the peoples of the world-not
only the peoples actually engaged, but
many others also who suffer under
mastery but cannot act; peoples OF
many races and IN every part OF the
vorid-the people of stricken Russia
still, among the rest, tho they are Tor
the moment unorganiZed and help
less. Opposed to them, master OF
many armies, stand an isolated,
friendless group of governments VINO
speak no common purpose but only
selfish ambitions of their own Dy
which none can profit but themselves,
and whose peoples are fuel in their
hands: Governments which fear their
people and yet are for the time their
sovereign lords, making every choice
for them and disposing OF their lives
and fortunes as they will, as well as
pie who fall under their power-sov-
ernments clothed with the strange
trappings and the primitive authority
of an age that is altogether alien and
hostile to our own The Past and
Present are in deadly grapple and the
peoples of the world are being done
to death between them.
No compromise.
There can be but one issue. The
settlement must be final. There can
be no compromise. No halfway de-
cision will be tolerated. No halfway
decision is conceivable. These are the
ends for which the associated peoples
of the world are fighting and which
must be conceded them before there
can be peace:
1.-THE destruction of every arbi
trary power anywhere that can sepa-
rately. secretly, and of its single
choice, disturb the peace of the
world; or, if 1t dnnot be permanently
destroyed, at the least its reduction to
virtual impotence.
1.-THE settlement of every ques-
ton. whether of territory, of SOW
ereignty, of economic arrangement, or
of political relationship, upon the
basis of the free acceptance of that
settlement by the people Immediately
concerned and not upon the basis OF
the material interest or advantage of
any other nation or people which may
desire a different settlement for the
sake of its own exterior influence or
mastery.
"III-The consent of all nations to
be governed in their conduct towards
each other by the same principles of
honor and of respect for the common
law of civilized society that govern
the individual citizens of all modern
states in their relations with one an
other: to the end that all promises
and covenants may be sacredly OBJ
served, no private plots or conspira-
cies Matched. no selfish injuries
wrought with in1punity and a mutual
trust established upon the handsome
foundation of q mutual respect for
right.
'TV-The establishment Of an or
ganization of peace which shall make
it certain that the combined power of
free nations will check every invasion
of right and serve to make peace and
justice the more secure by affordlns
q definite tribunal of opinion to which
all must submit and by which every
international readjustment that cannot
be amicably agreed upon by the peo-
Piles directly concerned shall be sane
toned. -
These great objects can be put into
a single sentence. What We see is the
reign of law, based upon the consent
of the governed AM sustained by the
organized opinion of mankind
These great ends cannot be
achieved by debating and seeking to
reconcile and accommodate what
statesmen may wish, with their prof.
ects for balances of power and of ma
tionaI opportunity. They can be real
| lied only by the determination of hat
the thinking peoples of the world de-
sire, with their longing for justice and
for social freedom and opportunity.
Il can fancy that the air of this
place carries the accents of such prin-
ciples with a peculiar kindness. Here
were started forces which the great
| nation against which they were pri-
marily directed at first regarded as a
revolt against its rightful authority but
| which it has long since seen to have
| been a step IN the liberation of its own
people as well as the people OF the
| United States and I stand here now
| to speak-speak proudly and with
| confident hope-of the spread of this
| revolt, this liberation, to the great
stage Of the world itself. The blind
| ed rulers of Prussia have reused forces
they knew little of-forces which, once
| reused, can never be crushed to earth
! again; for they have at their heart an
/ inspiration and a purpose which are
| deathless and of the very stuff of
] triumph"