Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-05
RID WORLD
Continued from Page One)

tie great age upon whose inspiration
we draw today.
This is surely fitting place from
which calmly to look out upon our
task, that we may fortify our spirits
for its accomplishment. And this is
the appropriate place from which to
aVoW. alike to the friends who look
on and to the friends with whom we
have the happiness to be associated
in action, the faith and purpose with
which we act.
This, then. is our conception Of
the sreat struggle in which we arc
engaged. The plot is written plain
upon every scene and every act of
the supreme tragedy. On the one
hand stand the peoples of the
world-not only the people actually
engaged. but many others who suf-
fered under mastery but cannot act;
peoples of many races and every
part of the world-the peoples of
stricken Russia still, among the
rest. though they are for the mo-
ment unorganized and helpless.
Opposed to them, masters of many
armies, stand an isolated, fricndless
group of governments who speak
no common purpose but only self
ish ambitions of their own by which
none can profit but themselves, and
whose peoples are fuel in their
hands: governments which fear
their people and yet are for the time
their sovereign lords, making every
choice for them and disposing of
their lives and fortunes as they will,
as well as Of the lives and fortunes
Of every people who fall under
their power-goNernme clothed
with the strange trappings and the
primitive authority of an age that
is altogether alien and hostile to our
own. The Past and Present are in
deadly grapple and the peoples OF
the world are being done to death
between them.
There can be but one issue. The
settlement must be final. There
can be no compromise. No half
way decision would be tolera BILE.
No half way decision is conceivable.
These are the ends for which the as
sociated peoples of the world are
fighting and which must be conced-
ed them before there can be peace.
1.-THE destruction of every ar
bltary power anywhere that can
separat ely, secretly. and OF its sing
lie choice disturb the peace of the
world; or, IL it cannot be presently
destroyed, at the least its reduction
to virtual impotence.
1.-THE settlement Of every ques-
ton. whether of territory. of souv-
ereignty. OF economic arrangement
of political relationship upon the
basis of the free acceptance OF that
settlement by the people immediate
ly concerned, and not upon the basis
of the material interest or advan-
tage of any other nation or people
which may desire a different settle
ment for the sake of its own exter-
ior influence or mastery.
''III-The consent of all nations 70 be
governed in their conduct towards each
other by the same principles of honor
and of respect for the common law of |
civilized society that govern the indi- |
vidual citizen OF all modern statas IL !
their relations with one another. n tbe 4
end that all promises and covents NAV
be sacredly observed. no private nIots |
or conspiracies Matched. no selfish iniu-
ries wrought with impunity. and a NUT
ual trust established upon tire hand |
some foundation of mutual respect |
for right.
"1N-The establishment of IN organ
ization of peace which shall mako cer-
tam that the combined powerAof ffee |
nations will check every ;nvas;..l - /
right and serve to make pasce ami ~
tee the more secure uy aEordfng dsA- |
mite triDunai Of opsnion 70 which, 81,
must ssbnnas and BY which every inter
nataopA readJustmsnt mat canaot be