The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-09-28
We MUST SCRAP OLD IDEAS OF
STATECRAFT, LEADER DECLARES

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cited we think more definitely than
before of the issues that hang upon
IL and OF the purposes which must be
realized by means OF IL. For II has
positive and wcll-defined purposes
which we did not determine and
which we cannot alter. No states.
man or assembly created them: no
statesman or assembly can alter
them. They have arisen out OF the
very nature and circumstances OF the
war. The most that statesmen or as
semblics can do Is to carry them out
or be false 20 them. They were per.
haps not clear at tho outset. but they
are clear now. The war has lasted
more than four years and the whole
world has been drawn into IL.
THE common will OF mankind has
been substituted for the particular
purposes OF individual states. Ind.
vidual statesmen may have started
the conflict, but neither they nor
their opponents can stop II az they
please. IL has become a peoples
war. and peoples OF all sorts and
races, OF every degree OF power and
variety OF fortune. arc involved in
it's sweeping processes OF change and
settlement. We came into IL when
its character had become fully de.
fined and IL was plain that no nation
could stand apart or be indifferent 10
its outcome. Its challenge drove TO
the heart OF everything we cared for
and lived for. our brothers from
many lands. as well as our own muir.
dered dead under the sea, were call
ing to US, and we responded. fiercely
and OF course.
The air was clear about us. We
saw things in their full. convincing
proportions as they were. and We
have seen them with steady eyes and
unchanginig comprehension ever
since. We accepted the issues of the
war as facts. not as any group OF
men either here or elsewhere had de-
fined them. and we can accept no
outcome which does not squarely
meet and settle them. Those issues
are these: Shall the military power
OF any nation or group OF nations be
suffered to determine the fortunes OF
peoples over whom they have no
right to rule except the right Of
force?
Wrong Weak Nations
shall strong nations be free to
wrong weak nations and make them
subject to their purpose and interest?
shall peoples be ruled and domi.
mated, even in their own Internal af.
fairs. by arbitrary and irresponsible
force or by their own Will and
choice?
shall there be a common standard
OF right and privilege for all peoples
and nations. or shall the strong do
as they will and the weak suffer
without redress?
Shall the assertion Of right be
haphazard and by casual alliance. or
shall II be common concert to
oblige the observance of common
rights?
mo man. no group OF men. chose
these to be the issues OF the strug
gle. They are the issues OF II. and
they must be settled. by no arrange
ment or compromise or adjustment
of interests. but definitely and once
for all and with a full and unequivo-
cal acceptance OF the principle that
the interest OF the weakest is as
sacred as the interest OF the strong
est.
This Is what we mean when we
speak of a permanent peace. II we
speak sincerely. intelligentiy and
with a real knowledge and compre-
hension OF the matter we deal with.
I'VE are all agreed that there can
be no peace obtained by any kind of
bargain or compromise with the gov
ernments of the central empires be
cause we have dealt with them al
ready and have seen them deal with
other governments that were parties
to this struggle. at Brest-Litovsk and
Bucharest. They have convinced us
that they are without honor and do
not intend Justice. They observe no
covenants. accept no principle but
force and their own interest. We
cannot come TO terms with them.
They have made it impossible. The
German people must by this time be
fully aware that we cannot accept
tnt MOTu VI lnOSe WHO IOTCtu tNlS
war upon Us. We do not think the
same thoughts or speak the same
language OF agreement
No Compromise Peace
1T is OF capital Importance that
we should also be explicitly agreed
that no peace shall be obtained by
any kind of compromise or abate-
ment OF the principles we have
avowed as the principles for which
we are fighting. There should exist
no doubt about that I am, there
fore. going to take the liberty OF
speaking with the utmost frankness
about the practical Implications that
are involved in 1t.
IF 1t be indeed and in truth the
common object of the governments
associated against Germany and OF
the nations whom they govern, as
believe 1t to be. to achieve by the
coming settlements secured and
lasting peace, it will be necessary
that all who sit down at the peace
table shall come ready and willing
to pay the price. the only price, that
will secure It, and ready and willing,
also. to create in some virile fashion
the only fundamentally by which 1t
can be made certain that the agree
arafa s.f IN - L