Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-09
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH

NlOH VI -AlilCllCd Wal aims W HI
be received with bitterness by
the German government and with
unalloyed delight, no doubt, by all
of the allied peoples. At home the
speech will be regarded generally as
setting forth very clearly and be-
yond misinterpretation what the
American public has come to
understand are our objects in the
war-nothing more, nothing less. 1t
is in strict accord with the popular
conception of American aims. Rus
sia, whether it does or not, should
see in it a guarantee of that world
peace and national independence for
which those who have been dicker-
ing vainly with Germany profess to
be striving. Neutral nations will be
able to read into it nothing but
American good faith and devotion
to high ideals.
The Presidents speech is the
reply of the United States to the
Kaiser's efforts for peace on Ger
man terms. No matter how the i'm
perial government may profess to
regard this latest addition to the
literature of the war, it cannot be
ether than a staggering blow to
Hohenzollern ambitions. 1t means,
if it means anything, that the mill
lions of France, Britain, Russia, Ser
bia and Belgium shall have not suf-
fered and died in vain. It means
that America will not retire from
the conflict until the Prussian beast
is slain, either by an aroused popu-
lace at home or by the might of al
lied arms.
The President recognizes the right
of the German people to be ruled
over by Hohenzollern If their de-
praved tastes run in that direction,
but in that event it must be a Ho-
henzollern whose broken sword shall
have been turned into a plough
share and whose poisoned fangs
shall have been muzzled by a mask
of allied pattern.
If Berlin regards Lloyd Georges
speech as a sign of weakness there
will be found no such consolation
in the Presidents firm demands.
And yet there is in the essen
tial points laid down by Mr.. Will
son not one but that is eminently
fair and essential to lasting peace.
He has done nothing more than am
plify the doctrine of q world made
safe for democracy. His condemna-
ton of darkroom diplomacy and
secret treaties is a fundamental he
very properly regards as of prime
Importance, since all of the other
points he makes hinge more or
less upon it. International agree
ments open to knowledge of all,
freedom or the seas, reduction of
armaments, free, minded, alb
solutely impartial adjustment of all
colonial claims" Russian indepen-
dence and integrity, evacuation of
Belgium, Serbia, France and other
invaded lands and reparation for
losses, return of Alsace-Lorraine to
France, readjustment of Italian
boundaries to include all Italian
speaking peoples, guarantee of in
dependence for Austria Hungary. an
independent Polish state, an open
and internationalized Dardanelles,
justice for Turkey and freedom for
Armenians and others unjustly held
under Turkish rule-all these are
demanded by. justice and equity and
against which only an imperial and
selfshly ambitious Germany can
take exception. There is but one
point upon which more light is need
ed before it will receive unqualified
American support-and that has 70
DO with equality of trade" which
if it intended to commit the country
to perpetual free trade" policies
will meet with strong opposition in
the United States.
Tho Presidents attitude toward
Germany is the truly American at.
titude. 1t is farthest from ouI
thoughts to crush the German peo.
pie. We are not jealous of then
nor desirous of their downfall
Rather, we would like to- see then
free from oppression and the die.
tators of their own fate. But If they
prefer the iron nand of the auto
crs--, we mean to see that that hant