Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-05

TWO
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sspoke and acted. not for single people
only. but for all mankind. They.were
thinking, not OF themselves and OF the
material interests which conferred in
sthe little groups OF landholders and
merchants and men OF affairs with
whom they were accustomed TO act, in
\ yirSinia and the Colonies to the north
Nbnd south Of her. but Of a people which
wished to be done with classes and
special interests and the authority Of
men whom they had not themselves
chosen to rule over them. They enter
tanned no private purpose. desired no
: peculiar privilege. They were con-
lsciously planning that men OF every
class should he free. and America a
place to which men out of every nation
might resort who wished to share with
them the rights and privileges Of free
men. And we take our cue from them
do we not? We intend what they in
tended. We here in America believe
our participation in this present war
to be only the fruitage OF what they
planted. Our case differs from theirs
only in this. that it is our inestimablc
privilege 10 concert with men out of
every nation what shall make. not only
the liberties OF America secure. bU the
liberties of every other people as we'll.
ave are happy in the thought that we
Nare permitted TO do what they would
have done had they been in our place.
There must now be settled once for
all. what was settled for America in
the great age upon whose inspira ton
we draw to-day. This is surely fitting
place from which calmly 10 look OUT
upon our task. tina; We may for;.fy
our spirits for lis accomplishment And
this is the appropriate place from which
TO avow, alike TO the friends who look
on and 10 the friends With whom we
have the happiness 10 be associated in
notion. the faith and purpose With
which we ac:.
THIS AMERICAS GREAT
CONCEPTION OF STRUGGLE
This, then Is our conception OF me
sres, struggle II which ws are en-
gagged. Tie 7!o; is written plain upon
every scene and every act Z the su-
p7eme tragedy. on The one hand stand
the reoples ct ;he wo-ld-not only The
peoples actually engaged. hu; many
Others Also who suffer under mastery,
AVID in every 7a-; % tie wo-.d-tha
PEOPLE c: stricken Russia still. among
he rest though ;hsy are for the mo-
uent urorEanizsd and helpless oH-
posed TO them. masters G: many armies,
stand al isolxis6. :rlend!ess group ot
governments who sresk no common
purpose, hu. only selfish ambitions OF
their own. by which none cSN prom.
but themselves. and whose peoples are
fuel in their hands; governments which
Tear iheir people and Yet are Tor the
zine their sovereign lords. naHin:
every choice for them and diS7osirs O.
-.;heir lives and fortunes as they VIII,
as we'll as OF the lives and fortunes
OF every people who IA! under ;he!-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS clothed with The
strange ;rappinss and the primitive au-
= thori;y o, an age tina: Is altogether
alien and hostile 20 our own. The pas;
and the present are IN deadly erapp!e,
and the peoples Q: the world are being
done 10 death between them.
NO HALFWAY DECISION
WOULD he ToLERAELE
There can he but one .ssue. The
, settlement mus; be final There can
he 10 compromise. No halfway dcci-
sion would be toierable. No halfway
decision is conceivable. These are the
lends for which the associated PEOPLES Of
I" the world are fighting. and which must
! he conceded them before there can be
peace:
!. The destruction of every arbitrary
power anywhere that can separately.
secretly. and or its single choice :
turb the peace OF the world. or. II Il
cannot be presently destroyed, a. the
least its reduction 10 virtual in!po-
---tence.
III. The settlement OF every question,
whether OF territory. Of severe. gnty, OF
economic arrangement, or OF political
irflationshp. upon the basis OF the free
acceptance OF that settlement by the
people Immediately concerned. and not
upon the basis of the material iuteres:
or advantage .: any other nation or
people which may desire q d different set
element fcG.the sake % It's own exterior
influence or mastery.
iii. The consent OF ell nations 20
be governed. in their conduct toward
each other by theAsan.e principles o!
honor and OF reAses~ .o- the common
law OF civilized society that govern the
individual citizens OF all modern states
in their relations with one another. to
the end that all promises and cove
nants may be sacred!y observed, no
private plots OF consp!racics haL~hcd
no selfish injuries wrought with m
punity, and n mutual trust "stabl!sher {;
upon the handsome foundation OF nL-
I" tual respect for right
Nv. The establishment OF an organ
aization OF zee which shall make II
certain that the combined power Of
free nations VIII check every invasion
!, of right and serve to make peace anc
Justice the moye secure by amordiue
= n definite tribunal of opinion % whlcl
/. All must submit and by which ever!
international readjustmen, that can
y not be amicahly agreed upon by tn.
peoples Directly concerned shall .,
sanctioned.
- WHAT IS SOUGHT
IS REIGN or Law
.sr"These great objects can be put int
y a'single sentence. What We seek is III