The Green Forest tribune., 1918-01-18

and in open and hopeless contradic- ton? These are very serious and pregnant questions. Upon the answer to them depends the peace of the world.
 But whatever the results of the par leys at Brest-Litovsk, whatever the confusions of counsel and of purpose in the utterances of the spokesmen of the central empires, they have again attempted to acquaint the world with their objects in the war and have again challenged their adversaries to say what their objects are ard what sort of a settlement they would deem just and satisfactory. There is no good reason why that challenge should not be responded to and responded to with the utmost candor.
 We did 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 MT. Lloyd George has spoken with admirable candor and in admira- ble canidor and in 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 prin- ciples, no vagueneSS of detail. The only secrecy of counsel, the only lack of fearless franknesS, the only failure to make definite statement of the ob- jects of the war, lies with Germany and her allies. The issues of life and death hang upon these definitions. No statesman who has the least concep- tion of his responsibility ought for Q moment to permit himself to continue this tragical and appalling outpouring of blood and treasure unless he is sure beyond a peradventure that the ob- jects Of the vital sacrifice are part and parcel of the very life of society, and that the people for whom she speaks think them right and impera- tive as he does.
 Russian Peoples Gall.
 There is, moreover a voice calling for these definitions of principle and of purpose which is, it seems to me- more thrilling and more compelling than any of the many moving voices with which the troubled air of the world is filled. It is the voice of the Russian people. They are prostrate and all but helpless, it would seem, which has hitherto known no relent- ing and no pity Their power, appar- ently is shattered, and yet their soul is not subservient They will not yield in principle or in action. The conception of what is right, of what is humane and honorable for them to accept, has been stated with frank ness. a largeness of view, generosity of spirit and a universal human sym pathy which must challenge the aG miration of every friend of mankind. and they have refused to compound their, ideals or desert others that they themselves may be safe. They call to us to say what it is we desire, in what if in anything our purpose and our spirit differ from theirs, and I be- live that the people of the United States would wish me to respond with utter simplicity and frankness. Wheth- CT their present leaders believe it or not, it is our heartfelt desire and hope that same way may be opened whereby we may be privileged to as sst the people of Russia to attain their utmost hope of liberty and ord cred peace.
 It will be our wish and purpose that the processes of peace, when they are begun, shall be absolutely open and that they shall involve and permit henceforth no secret understandings of any kind. The day of conquest and aggrandizement is gone by; so is also the day of secret covenants entered into in the interest of particular gov ernment and likely at some unlocked for moment to upset the peace of the world.
 It is this happy fact, now clear 10 the view of every public man whose thoughts do not still finger in an age that is dead and gone. which make 1t possible for every 0n whose pur- poses are consistel h justice and the peace of the world to avow now or at any other time the objects it has in view.
 We entered this war because viola tions of right had occurred which touched us to the quick and made the fife of our own people impossible un- less they were corrected and the world secured once for all against this recurrence.
 What we demand in this war, there fore, is nothing peculiar to ourselves. It is that the world be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe. for every peace loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live it's own life, determine it's own be assured of justice and fair dealing bv the other DeODle of