Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-10

sacrifice are part lid parcel Of the very
life of society and that the people for
whom he speaks think them as right and
imperative as he does.
There is moreover, a voice calling for
these definitions of principle and Of pur-
pose which is, 1t 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. 1t Is
the voice of the Russian people. They are
PROSTATE and all but helpless, 1t would
seem. before the grim power of Germany
which has hitherto known no relenting
and no pity. Their power. apparently is
shattered. And yet their soul is not
subservient They will not yield either in
! principle or In action. Their conception
OF what Is right, what Is humane, and
honorable for them to accept. has been
stated with frankness, a largeness of view
generosity of spirit and universal
human sympathy which must challenge
the admiration Of every friend of man.
kind; and they have refused to compound
their ideals or desert others that they
themselves may be safe. They call to us
to say what 1t is that we desire, in what
II anything our purpose, and our spirit
diners from theirs. And / believe that
the people of the United States would
wish me to respond with utter simplicity
and frankness. Whether their present
leaders believe it or not. it is our heartfelt
desire ard hope tina, some way may be
opened whereby we may be permitted
to assist the people of Russia to attain
their utmost hope Of liberty and peace.
NO SECRET UNDERsT AND1NGs
| 1t will be our wish and purpose that the
processes OF peace when they are begun.
snail be absolutely open and that they
snail involve and permit henceforth no Sc
cret understandings of any kind. The day
OF conquest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT is gone
so Is also the day of secret covenants en-
tered into In the interest of particular
governments and likely at some unlocked
Tor moment to upset the peace of the
world. 1t is this happy fact now clear to
the view OF every public man whose
thoughts do not still linger in an age that
Is dead and gone. which makes it poss. BILE
Tor every nation whose purposes are con-
sistent with Justice and the peace of the
world to avow now or at any other time
the objects it has in vew
We entered this war because violations
Of right had occurred which touched us
to the quick and made the life of our own
people impossible unless they were cor
against their recurrence.
WHAT U. s. is FIGHTING FOR.
What We demand in this war, therefore
, Is nothing peculiar to ourselves. 1t is
that the world be made At and safe tc
live in: and particularly that 1t be made
. safe for every peace-loving nation which
, like our own wishes to live it's own life
determine its own inst tutiuns. be assured
OF Justice and fair dealing by the Other
peoples of the world as against force ant
selfish aggression. All the peoples of the
world are in effect partners in this inter
. est and for our own part we see yer,
, clearly that unless justice be done t.
others. It will not be done to us. The pro
: gram Of the worlds peace, therefore, II
our program: and that program, the only
possible program. as we see it, is this:
. l. Open covenants of peace. openly ar
rived at. after which there shall be NJ
: private international understanding o
z any kind but diplomacy shall proceed al
ways frankly and in the public view.
Q. Absolute freedom Of navigation upol
the seas. outside territorial waters, alik
in peace and war. except as the seas ma.
be closed in whole or In part by interna
tional action for the enforcement of inter
= national covenants.
q 8. The removal so far as possible o
n all economic barriers and the establish
e ment Of an equality Of trade condition
= among all the nations consenting t
h the peace and associating themselve
n for its maintenance.
y L. Adequate guarantees given an,
I taken that national ornaments will b
q reduced to the lowest points consisten
u with domestic safety.
s. A free open minded and absolute
ly impartial adjustment Of all colonia
claims based upon strict observanc
Of the principle that in determining al
such questions as sovereignty. the in
i terests of the populations concerned
must have equal weight with the equit
I able claims of the government who's
title Is to be determined.
l. g. The evacuation of all Russian ter
ritory and such a settlement Of all ques
q tions affecting Russia as will secur
tho best and freest cooperation of tn
other nations Of the world in obtaining
for her an unhampered and unembar
z raised opportunity for the Independent
q determination Of her own political de
= velopment-and national policy and as
a sure her of sincere welcome into tn
:, society Of free nations under condition
. !. Of her own choosing; and more than
. welcome. assistance also of every kin
> :. that she may med and may herself de
sire.
The treatment accorded Russia b
her sister nations in the months t
u come will be the acid test of their goo
. will. Of their comprehension of he
needs as distirg uished from their ow
interests and Of their intelligence an
II avmnathv