Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-07

ssor yindictive purpose. We must judge
SfKs we would be judged. l have sought
ITO learn tho objects Germany has in
sEthis war from the mouths OF her own
fspokesmen. and to deal as frankly with
5Sthem as wished them to deal with
y me. have laid barc our own ideals,
Sour own purposes, without reserve or
doubtful phrase. and have asked them
TO say as plainly what 1t is that they
seek.
READY TO DO JUSTICE
stS TO GERMAN PEOPLE
1--WE have ourselves proposed no in
Justice, no aggression. We arc ready.
whenever the final reckoning is made.
tto be just to the German people, deal
fairly with the German power. MS with
all others. There can be no difference
between peoples in the final Judgment.
IL IL Is. indeed, TO be righteous judE-
ment. To propose anything but JUS
tice, even-handed and dispassonate
Justice. to Germany ut any time, what
ever the outcome of the war. would
he to renounce and dishonor our own
cause. For we ask nothing that we
are not willing to accord
II at has been with this thought that
i have sought 10 learn from those who
spoke for Germany whether il was
Justice or dominion and the execution
OF their own will upon the other ma
tions of tho world that the German
leaders were seeking. They have an
sWcred, answered in untnistakable
terms. They have avowed that it was
rot justice, but dominion and the un-
hindered execution of their own VIII.
GERMANi'S MILITARY LEADERS
HER REAL RULERS
The avowal has no, come from Ger
nlany's statesmen. II has come from
her military leaders. who are her real
rulers. Her statesmen have said that
they wished peace. and were ready to
discuss its terms whenever their OPP
ponents were willing to sit down at
the conference table with them Her
present Chancellor has said--in in
definite and uncertain terms. indeed.
and in phrases that often seem to deny
their own meaning, but with as much
plainness as he thought prudent
that he believed that peace should be
based upon the PRINCIPLES which we had
declared would be our own in the final
settlement AT Brest Litovsk her
civilian delegates spoke in similar
terms; professed their desire to con-
clude fair peace and accord to the
peoples with whose fortunes they were
dealing the righ, to choose their own
aueSiances. But action accompanied
and followed the profession. Their
military masters. the men who act for
Germany and exhibit her purpose in
execution, proclaimed 4 very different
conclusion. We cannot mistake what
IN Ve ct ;p lS},-o
in the Ukraine. In Roumania. The real
test OF their Justice and fair play has
r-me. From this we may Judge the
rest. They are enjoying in Russia
u cheap triumph in which no brave or
gallant nation can long take pride. A
great people. helpless by their own
act, lies for the time at their mercy.
Their fair professions are forgotten.
They nowhere set up Justice, but every
where impose their power and exploit
everything for their own use and az
srandiacment and the peoples OF con-
aucrcd provinces are invited to be free
under their dominion.
Are we not justified in believing
that they would do the same things
at their western front If they were not
there face to face with armies whom
even their countless divisions cannot
overcome" II, when they have felt
their check TO he final they should
propose favorable and equitable terms
with regard to Belgium and France and
Italy, could they blame us il we con-
cludcd that they did so only to assure
themselves OF free hand in Russia
and the East?
GERMAN DREAM OF
DOMINION IN EAST
Their purpose is undoubtedly to
make all the Slavic peoples all the
free and ambitious nations OF the Bal
tic peninsula. all tho lands that Tur-