The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-01-08
Military Powers Rule.

anu lNeli power
Military Powers Rule.
1T ia q reasonable conjecture that
the general principles of settlement
which they at first suggested originated
with the more liberal statesmen Of Ger
many and Austria the men who have
begun 10 feel the force Of their own peo.
pies thought and purpose, while the
concrete terms OF actual settlement
came from the military leaders who
have no thought but to keep what they
have gort. Tho negotiations have been
broken OFF. The Russian representa-.
tiycs were sincere and I'm earnest. They
cannot entertain such proposals Of con.
quest and domination,
'fhe whole incident is full Of signifl-
canoe. It is also full Of perpleXty, with
whom are the Russian representatives
dealing? For whom are the representa-
tives Of the central empires speaking?
Are they speaking for the majorites of
their respective parliaments or for the
minority parties that military and i'm
perialistic minority which has, so far
dominated their whole policy and CON
rJllcd the affairs Of Turkey and the
Balkan states, which have felt obliged
to become their associates in this war?
Russians Are Democrats.
"The Russian representatives. insisted
4 very justly. Very wisely and in the true
spirit of democracy that the conferences
they have been holding with the Teu.
tonic and Turkish statesmen should be
! held within open, not closed doors, and
lll the world has been audience as was
| desired To whom have we been listen.
| ing then? TO those who speak the
spirit and intention Of the resolutions
9i the German reichstag OF the ninth of
| July last the spirit and intention OF the
sbua leaders and parties Of Germany
9r TO those who resist and defy that
spirit and intention and insist upon con.
lqucst and suhjugluon? Or are we
listening in fatt to both, unreconciled
land I'm open and hopeless contradiction?
These are very serious and pregnant
Questions Upon the answer to them
| depends the peace Of the world.
America Answers Challenge.
"But Whatever the results of the par.
iloys at Hrest Litoysk, whatever the con.
Illusions of counsel and Of purpose in the
/ utterancos OF the spokesmen Of the cen,
ual empires, they have again attempted
to acquaint the world with their OBJ
iacts i'm the war, and have again chal
lcuged their adtersaries to say what
j their objects are and what sort OF set
Element they would deem just and salts
factory. There is no good reason why
THAT challenge Should not be Responded
to, and responded to with the utmost
Iciudor. we did not wait for it. Not
NJ once, but again ana again we nave lai,
our whole thought and purpose before
the world, not i'm general terms only
but each time with sufficient definition
TO make it clear what sort Of definitiv,
terms Of settlement must uecessaril!
, spring out OF them. Within the las
week, Mr. Lloyd George has spokeI
with admirable candor and in admirabl,
=, spirit for the spirit and govpfnment o
IGr,at Britain.
Issues of Life and Death.
There is no confusion Of counsa
lamong the aivtryalies of the centra
powers, no uncertainty Of principle, nj
yapuoness Of detail. The only secrec,
, Of counsel. the only lack of fearles
frankness, the only failure to make def.
,Nc statement of the objects Of the wa
lies with Germany and herfalHds: Tn
ISSUES of life and death hang, upon tiles
definitions. No statesman who has tn
least conception Of his respohsibitl
bought for a moment to permit himsei
10 continue this tragical and appaHin
| ourpouring Of blood and treasure tinles
. he IS sure beyond a perJidventurA tia
,ho subjects Of the vital sacrifice ar
rmt and parcel Of the Very Hfe Of ~
ciety and that the people for whom h
] speabs think them right andrimPeratiV
2 as he does.
+. Voice Is Calling.
q There IS moreover, a voice callin
, for these hofuitons Of principle ana c
/ lpurpose which is, It seems to me, NOR
thrilling and more compelling than IN
[ I0f the voices with which the trouble
/ alr of the world isfiHed Itis the volc
! Of the Russia npeople. They are pro-
itTate and all but helpless, it wOult 9een
before the grim power Of GatiRn;
T. (which has hitherto known no Jtelen1in
and no pity. Their power, aulo5rcnti;
-, lis shattered. and yet their so'2l, IS rir
i lsubso,vient They will not yha.n eithc
l. in priociple or in action.
t "hTe conception Of what is right,
= what is humane and honorable for thei
10 accept has been stated with "a fran
ness, q largoneSs Of view, a generosit
Of spirit and q universal human symp
" Ithy which must challenge the admin
1t rion OF every friend of mankind; al
le they have refused to compound the
IS. ideals or desert others that they thel
al selves may be safe, They call to us
It. SAY what It is we desire, in what, II
s5 anything, our purw1sq and sphlt diff
n from theirs, and believe that tho pc
m pie Of the UnitodrStatns woHi1 wish L
at to respond with utter simplicity al
IA frankness.
ne Would Extend Help.
Sc Whether their present leaders /
d. love It or not, it's our heartfelt desI
ap and hope that some way be open