Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-01-16

come into the society Of free nations
under Institutions of her own choos-
ing; and, more than a welcome, as
sistance also of every kind that she
may need and may herself desire. The
treatment accorded Russia by her sis
ter nations in the months TO come Will
be the acid test of their good will, OF
their comprehension Of her needs as
distinguished from their own interests,
and of their intelligent and unselhsh
sympathy.
Z. belgium. the whole world will
agree. mus; be evacuated and restored.
without any attempt 10 limit the SOW
ereignty which she enjoys in common
with all other free nations. No other
single act will serve as this will serve
TO restore confidence among the ma
tions In the laws which they have
themselves set and determined for the
government of their relations with one
another. without this healing act the
whole structure and validity of inter-
national law is forever impaired.
Must Free France.
3. All French territory should
be freed aud the invaded portions re-
stored and the wrong done to France
by Prussia in 1871 In the matter of AL
sace-L0fraine, which has unsettled the
peace of the world for nearly fifty
years, should be righted In order that
peace may once more be made secure
In the interest of ALL
8. A readjustment of all frontiers
of Italy should be effected along clear
~ recognizable lines of nationality.
10. The peoples of Austria Hungary,
whose place among the nations we
wish to see safeguarded and assured,
should be accorded the freest opportu-
nifty of autonomous development.
Evscuate Balkans.
II. Roumania. Serbia and Monte
negro should be evacuated; occupied
territories restored Serbia accorded
free and secure access to the sea; and
I the relations of the several Balkan
states to one another determined by
friendly counsel along historically es-
tablished lines of allegiance and ma
tlonality and international guarantees
of the political and economic indepen-
dence and territorial integrity of the
several Balkan states should be en-
tered into.
r. The Turkish portions Of the
present Ottoman Empire should be as
sured secure sovereignty. but the
other nationalities which are now I'M
der Turkish rule should be assured an
undoubted security of life and an abb
soIutely unmolested opportunity Of au-
tonOmous development, and the Darda-
nelles should be permanently opened
as free passage TO the ships and
commerce Of all nations under inter-
ne tiOnal guarantees.
l3. An Independent Polish state
should be erected which should include
the territories inhabited by iudisput-
able Polish populations which should
be assured a free and secure access to
the sea and whose political and eco
nomic independence and territorial in
tegrity should be guaranteed by inter
national covenant.
a. general association Of ma
tions must be formed under specific
covenants for the purpose Of affording
mutual guarantees of political Indepen-
dence and territorial integrity 60 great
and small states alike.
an regard TO these essential rectiti-
4 cations Of wrong and assertions Of
I right we feel ourselves to be intimate
/ partners Of all the governments and
/ peoples associated together against the
/ imperiallstS We cannot be separated
IN interest or divided in purpose. We
/ stand together until the end.
"For such arrangements and COW
enants we are willing to fight and 10
continue to fight until they are achIev-
/ ed but only because we wish the right
{ 10 prevail and desire a just and stable
peace such ms can be secured only by
removing the chief provocations to
war. which this program does remove.
Not Jealous of Germany.
I'VE have no Jealousy Of German
greatness and there IS nothing In this
program that impalrs II. We grudge
[ her no achievement or distinction Of
! learning or Of pacific enterprise such
as have made her record very bright
/ and very enviable.
| eve do not wish TO injure her or
/ to block In any way her legitimate In
fuence or power.
/ I'VE wish her only to accept place
/ of equality among the peoples of the
world-the new world in which we
now lve--instead of place Of mas
/ terry.
Neither do we presume to suggest
| 70 her any alteration or modification Of
her Institutions But II Is necessary,
we must frankly say, and necessary as
a preliminary to any intelligent deal
ings with her on our part, that we
should know whom her Spokesman
speak for when they speak to us,
] whether for the reichstag majority or
for the military party. and the men
whose creed is imperial dominion.
Fight for Honor
1--WE have spoken now, surely. in
terms too concrete to admit OF any fur
Their doubt or question. An evident
principle runs through the whole pro-
gram | have outlined.
at IS the principle OF justice to all
peoples and nattOnallues, and their
right To live on equal terms OF liberty
and safety with one another. whether
they be strong or weak. Unless this
principle be made Its foundation no
part OF the structure of international
Justice can stand. The people of the