The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-08
RESTATES WAR AIMS
Continued from Page ~

military leaders who have no thought but
to keep what they have got The neeo
tiations have been broken off The Rus
sian representatives We're sincere and in
earnest. They cannot entertain such pro
poeals of conquest and domination
The whole incident is full of signif
canoe. 1t j. also full Of perplexitv. 4
With whom are the Russian representa-
tives dealing! For whom are the repre-
scntativeS of the central powers speak
ing? Are they speaking for the ma jority
OF their respective parliaments or for
the minority party that military and
impcrialistic minority which has 80 far
dominated their whole policy and con
trolled the affairs Of Turkey and the
Balkan states. which have felt obliged to
become their associates III this war! The |
Russian representatives have insisted !
very Justly, very wisely and in the true
Esprit of modern democracy that the |
conferences they have been holding with |
the Tcutonic and Turkish statesmen !
should be held in the open. not behind
closed doors To whom have we been lis |
tcning then? To those who speak the /
spirit and intention of the resolution of
the German reichstag Of the 9th of July |
| last, the spirit and intention of the liberia |
? leader, and the party of Germany. or to
those who resist and defy that spirit and
intention and insist upon conquest and
subiUgation? OR are we listening in fact
to both, unreconcilcd, and in open and
hopeless contradiction? These are very
serious and pregnant questions tpon
, the answer to them depends the peace of
r the world
But whatever the result of the parlevs
Lot | l. !,
. of counsel and OF purpose and in the
. utterances OF the spokesman of the cen
!. trail empires. they have again attempted
T. to acquaint the world with their object
@ in the war and have again challenged
their advcrSares to say what their oh
Iiccts are and what sort of settlement
they would deem Just and satisfactory.
There is no good reason why that chal-
Ilenge should not be responded to with
the utmost candor We did not wait for
T. it, not once. but again we have laid our
whole thoughts and purposes before the
50 world, not in general terms only, but each
! time with sufficient definition TO make it
clear what sort of defnitive terms of set
ltement must necessarily spring out OF
them.
Within the last week Mr. LLOYD George
J. has spoken with admirable candor aud in
admirable spirit for the people and gov
4 ernment of Great Britain. There Is no
confusion of counsel among the adverse
rieS OF the central powers, no uncertainty
- tof principles no VagGeneSs of detail. Tho
only secrecy OF counsel, the only lack Of
fearless frankneSS. the only failure to
make definite statements OF the object
Of the war lies with Germany and her
allies The issues Of life and death hang
upon these definitions.
Ne statesman who ha, the least con
ception of his responsibility ought for a
moment to permit himself to continue
this tragical and appalling outpouring oi
blood and treasure unless he Is sure be
lvond a peradvcnture that the object, OF
the vital sacrifice are part and parcel 81
the life of society and hat the people fol
whom he speaks thinks them right anl
imperative Il, he does.
There it, moreover, q voice calling
for these i definitions Of principle ano
ct purpose which Is, il seems to me
more thrilling aud more compelling
than any Of the maaE moving voices
with which the troubled air of tn,
verdi is filled. It IS the voice Of tn,
Russian people. They are PROSTATE an,
al but helpless il would seem, before
the grim power of Germany which ha
hitherto shown no reIentiug, and no pity
Their power apparently is SHATTERED
and vet their soul is not subservient
They will not Weld either in prncipl
or in action. Their conception of wha
is right. Of what il is humane and hon
orable for them TO accept, has beer
stated with a fraHkneSS, lar"ennsS q
view, q generosity of spirit and uni
vcrsa human sympathy which mus
I challenge the admiration Of eyer
/ friend of mankind: and they have re
| fused to compound their ideals or d.
| scrt others that they themselves ma
| be saved.
Z They call to us to say what II
l that we desire, what, il in anything
| our purpose and our 'rit differs frol
/ theirs and | believe th3t tae pcopl
| of the United States woald wish rae t
l respond with utter simplicity an
/ franl,ness.
| Whether their present leaders be1iey
] it or not it is our heartfelt desire an
4 hope that some way may bc opcnc
whereby we may be privileged to Il
sist the peoplc of Russia to attain the
utmost hope of liberty and orderC
peace.
1t will be our wish and purpose III;
! the processes of peace, when they Al
/ begun. shall he absolutely open an
1 that thew shall Involve and perm
! henceforth no secret understanding
any kind.
j The day Of conquest and aggrandiz
- mcnt is gone by SO is also the d.
w, Of secret covenants entered into in Il
ntereat of particular governments al
Iikelr ut some unlocked for moment
upset the peace Of the world 1t IS tn
happy fact now clear to the view
4 every public man whose thou"hts
not still linger in an age that is de-
and gone, which makes it possible i
every nation whose pUIpose IS are 60
sistent with Justice and the peace
the world to avow now o. at any 9th
\ time the object it has III view.
We entered this war because Vio1
4 items Of rights had occurred viii
touched Us to the quick and made t
life Of our own people imnossible u
\ less they were corrected and the wol