The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-09
THE PRESIDENTS GREATER
VISION.


Where others saw the opportunity
but vaguely or not at all, President
Wilson seized it and made the most
of it.
A situation, which The Forum felt
existed, and to which It tried, in a
stumbling way, TO call attention, in
two editorials published Monday and
Tuesday has been visualized for the
world by the President in his master
'1y address to congress yesterday.
Some may see in the Presidents
address, repetition Of Lloyd
Georges talk Of Saturday. 1t was
Tar more than that Lloyd George
stated in concrete terms the aims
that President Wilson has held be-
fore the Allies since America enter
ed the war President Wilson either
saw an opportunity that the British
premier overlooked entirely, or it
was left to him by the Allied nations
rs his part in the diplomatic often
Eive which is designed TO drive a
wedge between the German govern
1nent and the German people.
The Presidents recognition Of the
Russian situation is the paramount
feature of his address. The rest has
all been said before-perhaps in less
concrete terms-but where other
statesmen have ignored Russia, as
Lloyd George did, the President has
realized the responsibility and the
opportunity.
Lloyd George saw nothing more in
the Russian situation than the neces-
sity Of letting the Russian people
work out their own problem.
President Wilson demands:
THE evacuation of all Russian
territory and such a settlement
of all questions affecting Russia
as will secure the best and freest
corporation of the other nations
of the world in obtaining for her
an unhampered and unembarras-
sed opportunity for the indie
pendent determination Of her own
political development and ma
tional policy and assure her OF
u sincere welcome into the So
Ciety Of free nations under in
situations of her own choosing;
and, more than q welcome, as
sistance also Of every kind that
she may need and may herself
desire. This treatment accord
ed Russia by her sister. 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 in
telligent and unselfsh sympathy.
Which attitude is designed to re- |
store the waning confidence Of the |
Russian people in the Allies?
Which attitude is designed to give |
the Bolshevik government confidence |
TO hold out against q separate peace? !
Which attitude is likely to bring
back a Russian army Of 100000
men?
Which attitude gives evidence Of a
desire to wage a 100 per cent war?
Which attitude will strengthen the
hands Of the Germans who are be-
ginning to hear the voices Of democ-
racy in the air, and to think for
themseIves2
Aside from the notable way in
which President Wilson grasped the
Russian situation, and outlined the
best possible use to be made Of it,
the message is remarkable for its
absolute frankness, which is far
more effective than any adroit con-
cealment.
There is not a word of trucking;
not hint Of any weakening in a war
10 the finish for an American peace;
not q suggestion that the Allies will
recede an inch from their demands
for a just peace; but 1t carries di-
rectly to the people of the Central
empires the word that the Allies
seek no territory for themselves; do
not seek the disruption of any of the
Teutonic allies; and will demand no
vengeance, but only reparation.
The message is open to attack from
neither the most pronounced militar-
list in America, nor from any reas-
oning pacifist. No man in America
today would dare openly to advo-
cate a war for territorial aggrandize-
ment On the other hand there are
few who dare openly to advocate a
compromise with triumphant Ger ,
man militarism.
To understand the effect it should !
have in Germany itself, it is neces-
sary to recall the alignment Of poll
tical parties there. On the one side
are the Pan Germanists, represented
BY Won Tirpitz, Hindenburg, Luden-
dorh and the militarists and junkers.
They demand a war of annexations
and indemnities, maintaining that !,
Germany will face certain ruin with
out an immense indemnity end the ;,
retention OF her conquered territory
after the war. On the other extreme j
are the radicals including the So
ciallsts, who demand peace without :
aunexations and without indem-
mites; vino are heartily sick Of the
war and who go as far Us they dare Z
In denouncing the pan ermanists
and Germany's part in the war. They
are growing i'm strength, and are all !
most as bitter against the men who +
have ruined the Fatheriand as any n
American Frenchman or Britisher I
Between these two parties are the I,