American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-04-12
FORCE TO THE UTMOST
WITHOUT STINT OR LIMIT
President Wilson Makes New Declara-
tiOn OF NatiOn's Purpose in the War,
and Conditions That Must Ne Met.

Edl0.
Fellow Citizens: This is the ami
versary of our acceptance Of Ger
many's challenge to fight for our right
to live and be free, and for the sacred
rights of free men everywhere. The
nation is awake There is no need to
call to it. We know what the war
must cost, our utmost sacrifice, the
lives of our fittest men, and, if need be.
all that we possess.
The loan we are met to discuss is
one of the least parts of what we are
called upon to give and do, though
in itself imperative The people of
the whole country are alive to the ne
cessity of it, and are ready to lend to
the utmost, even when it involves
sharp skimping and daily sacrifice to
lend out of meagre earnings. They
will look with reprobation and con-
tempt upon those who can and will
not, upon those who demand a higher
rate of interest, upon those who think
of it as a mere commercial transac-
ton. l have not come, therefore, to
urge the loan. | have come only to
give you, if l can, more vivid con-
ception of what it is for.
Reasons Are Now Clear.
THE reasons for this great war, the
reason why it had to come, the need
to fight it through and the issues that
hang upon its outcome, are more
clearly disclosed now than ever be-
fore It is easy to see just what this
particular loan means, because the
cause we are fighting for stands more
sharply revealed than at any previous
crisis of the momentous struggle. The
man who knows least can now see
plainly how the cause of justice stands
and what the imperishable thing is he
is asked to invest in. Men in Amer
lea may be more sure than they ever
were before that the cause is their
own, and that, if it should be lost,
their own great nations place and
mission in the world would be lost
with it.
Il can call you TO witness, my fellow
countrymen, that at no stage of this
terrible business have l judged the
purposes of Germany Unexpectedly.
l should be ashamed in the presence
of affairs so grave, so fraught with the
destinies of mankind throughout all
the world, to speak with turbulence, to
use the weak language of hatred or
vindictive purpose. We must judge as
we would be judged. have sought to
learn the objects Germany has in this
war from the mouths of her own
spokesmen, and to deal as frankly
with them as I wished them to deal
with me. I have laid bare our own
ideals. our own purposes, without re-
serve or doubtful phrase. and have
asked them TO say as plainly what it is
that they seek.
We Propose No Injustice.
Eve have ourselves proposed no in
Justice, no aggression. We are ready
whenever the final reckoning is made
to be Just to the German people. deal
fairly with the German power, as with
all others. There can be no differ
4 ence between peoples in the final
Judgment, if il is indeed to be a right
eous judgment. To propose anything
but Justice. even-handed and dispas-
sionate justice, to Germany, at any
time. whatever the outcome of the
war, would be to renOunce and dis
honor our own cause. For we ask
nothing that we are not willing to ac-
cord.
1T has been with this thought thai
have sought to learn from those who
spoke for Germany whether it was
iustice or dominion and the execution
of their own will upon the other ma
tions of the world that the German
leaders we're seeking. They have an
swered answered in unmistakabl'
terms. They have avowed that it wa:
not justice. but dominion and the un
hindered execution of their own will
Is Ruled by Military.
The avOwal has not come from
Germany's statesmen. 1t has come
from her military leaders, who are he
real rulers. Her statesmen have salt
that they wished peace, and were
ready to discuss its terms wheneve
their opponents were willing to 81
down at the conference table witt
them. Her present chancellor ha!
said-in indefinite and uncertain
terms. indeed. and in phrases tha
often seem to deny their own mean
ing. but with as much plainness as h
thought prudent-that he believes
= that peace should be based upon tn
principles which we had declare
would be our own in the final settle
ment
AT Brest Litovsk her civilian dele
gates spoke in similar terms; pro
feSSed their desire TO conclude Ial
peace and accord to the peoples wit
whose fortunes they were dealing tn
right to choose their own allegiance
But action accompanied and followe
the profession. Their military mas
ters. the men who act for German
and exhibit her purpose in execution
proclaimed a different conclusion.
We cannot mistake what they hay
done-in Russia. in Finland, in tn
Ukraine, in Rumania. The real test {
their justice and fair play has com
From this we may judge the res
They are enjoying in Russia a chea
triumph. in which no brave or eallar
nation can long take pride. A gre;
people. helpless by their own act. lie
for the time at their mercy. The
y fair professions are forgotten.
They nowhere set up justice. bl
cvervwhefe impose their power an