The Washington herald., 1918-04-07

they have done-in Russia, In Fin
land. in the Ukraine, in Rumania.
Cheap Triumph.
The real test Of their justice
and fair play has come. From
this we may tudge the rest. They
are enjoying I'm Russia . cheap
triumph In which no brave OF
gallant pation can long take
pride. A great people. helpless
by their own act, lies for the
time at their mercy. Their fair
professions are fersetten. They
nowhere set mp 5ustlce, but ey-
erywhere Impose their power
and exploit everythinG for
their own use and aggrandise-
mentj and the peoples of con-
quered provinces are invited 10
be free under their dominien!
Are we not justifed in believing
that they would do the same things
at their Western front IL they were
not there face to face with armies
whom even their countless divisions
can not overcome? II, when they
have felt their check to be final.
they should propose favourable and
equitable terms with regard to
Belgium and France and Italy.
could they blame US If we con-
cluded that they did 30 only to as
sure themselves OF a free hand In
Russia and the East?
!. Their purpose Is undoubtedly to
make all the stvic peoples, all che
free and ambitious nations Of the
nol Iii
Turkey has dominated and, mis-
ruled. subject to their will and am
bition and build upon that dominion
an empire Of force upon which they
fancy that they can then erect an
empire OF gain and commercial
supremacy-an empire as hostile TO
the Americas as to the Europe
which it will overawe.-an empire
which will ultimately master
Persia, India, and the peoples Of
the Far East.
In such a program our ideals, The
ideals Of justice and humanity and
liberty. the principle OF the free
self-determination OF nations upon
which all the modern world in
sists. can play no part. They are
rejected for the ideals of power. for
the principle that the strong must
rule the weak. that trade must fol-
low the flag, whether those to
whom 1t Is taken welcome II or
lot. that the peoples of the world
are to be made subject to the pa
tronage and overlordship of those
who have the power to enforce it.
Ideals wouId Fall.
That program once carried out,
America and all who care or dare
to stand with her must arm and
prepare themselves to contest the
mastery OF the world, a mastery in
which the rights of common men.
the rights of women and of all who
are weak. must for the time being
be trodden under foot and disre-
garded. and the old. age-long strug-
gle for freedom and right begin
again at its beginning. Everything
that America has lived for and
loved and grown great to vindicate
and bring to a glorious realization
Will have fallen in utter ruin and
the gates OF mercy once more pitt
lessly shut upon mankind!
The thing is preposterous and i'm
possible; and yet Is not that what
the whole course and action of the
German armies has meant wher-
ever they have moved? I do not
wish, even In this moment Of utter
establishment. to Judge harshly
or unrighteously. Judge only
what the. German arms. have ac-
complished with IMPLYING thor
oughness throughout every fair
region they have touched.
What, then, are we to do?
For myself, I am ready, ready
still, ready even now, to discuss
y fair and Just and honest peace
Mt any time that II 10 sincerely
purposed.-a peace In which the
strong and the weak shaH fare
alike. But the answer, when I
proposed such peace, came
from the German commanders
In Russia. and I can not mistake
the meaning OF the answer.
Accept Challenge.
I accept the challenge. I know
that you accept 1t. All the world
shall know that you accept 1t. 1t
snail appear In the utter sacrifice
and self-forgetfulness with which
We shall give all that We love and
all that we have to redeem the
world and make It fit for free men
like ourselves to live in. This now
Is the meaning of all that we do.
Let everything that we say, my
fellow countrymen. everything that
we henceforth plan and accom-
plish. ring true to this response
till the majesty and might Of our
concerted power shall fill the
thought and utterly defeat the
force Of those who fiout and mis-
prize what we honour and hold
dear. Germany has once more said
that force, and force alone, shall
decide whether Justice and peace
shall reign In the affairs of men,
whether Right as America con-
ceives 1t or Dominion as she con-
ceives 1t shall determine the des-
TIMES of mankind.
There r., therefore, but one
sesponse possible from us, Force,
Force 70 the utmost, Force
without stint or limit, the
righteous and triumphnnt Force
which shall make Right the law
Of the world, md east eyery
seifish dominion down In the
.dust,
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