Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-04
ARGUING TO THE JURY.

There is every indication that the
reply to the Russo German peace pro-
posals which is to be made for the
several nations referred to as the al
lies will follow the tone of the Presi.
dents reply to Pope Benedict, and
there is ample reason to believe that
Mr.. Wilson himself will write the
declaration which will be endorsed
by France and England and, Of course,
by Italy and the lesser nations at war
with the central powers.
The presidents ability as a maker
of phrases is having no small part IN
the process of committing the Euro
pean governments to the aims which
are Americas, and it is notable
fact that since the United States en-
tered the war with its declaration OF
high principles in which selfshness
and covetousness have no part, Eng
land. France and even italy have ex-
hibited less Of the desire for conquest
than seemed to impel their statesmen
earlier in the war.
This trend is of double Importance.
It serves to uphold the declaration
which President Wilson made IN the
beginning, that the war is one against
autocracy and despotism, as much in
the interests of the Germans as Of any
other people. Also, it paves the way
for a peace such as the president
outlined in his recent message to con-
gress. in which the ENJOYS OF Amerl-
ca are to agree only to such an ar
rangement as win permit no selfish
advantage either to friend or foe.
In a way, the present war is as much
one of logic and propaganda as OF
military activity, and thus far the
kaiser and his war lords have had all
the better of the former phase. They
have been able to command the con-
tinued faithful service and loyalty OF
the German public in the face OF the
arguments and appeals their enemies
have made persistently in an effort to
waken the kaisers subjects to a reali-
cation of his iniquities.
Although there seems little hope
for the success Of propaganda aimed
at a German revolt, it must be re-
membered that this propaganda has
been in existence seriously only since
President Wilson wrote his famous
statement that the United States was
not making war on the German peo-
ME. For almost three years the war
had been convulsing Europe: England
France Belgium and Italy had passed
the point at which they could Judge
calmly as to peoples or issues. Their
activities were directed against the
German government, to be sure, but
thew made no distinction between that
government and the German public
which gave it its brute strength.
From a distance the president was
able to view the struggle with more
calmness, and his appeal to the Ger
mans themselves is seen now as a
wise ono despite the fact that as yet
there is no real ground for hope OF a
revolt within the empire.
Dispatches which The Courier pub
1ished yesterday say the unrest
among the Germans is increasing and
add that the numerous fires in NUM-
ton plants have caused anxiety
among the war lords.
The negotiations between the BOZ
sheviki in Russia and the representa-
tives Of the central powers are aimed
at nothing but a pro-German peace.
There no longer is any doubt that
Lenine, Trotzky and their followers
are subsidized by Germany nor that
their so-called conferences are in
fact empty and transparent formali-
ties designed to draw the allies into a
premature peace parley which could
bring them nothing but disadvantage.
From a military standpoint there
can be little Or no diHe<eAcs whkhGk