The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-09

Yea rle9s fr&nknesS. the only failure &c
make definite statement of the OBJ
: jects OF the wsr lies with Germany
and her allies.
The issues Of nfe and death hang
upon these definitions. No statesman
who has the least conception or mis-
responsibility ought for a moment "a
permit himself 10 continue this tragt-
cal and appalling outpooring OF blood
and treasure unless he IL sure beyond
a pcradvcnturc THAI the objects of the
vital sacrifice are part and parcel OF
the very life of society and that the
people npr whom he speaks think
them right and imperative a. he does.
There Is, moreover. voice calling
for these definitions OF principle and
OF purpose, which Is. Il seems to me,
more thrilling and more compelling
than any Of the many moving voices
with which the troubled afr of the
world is filled.
Russians All But Helpless.
Il Is the voice Of the Russian peo-
pie They are PROSTATE and all but
helpless, II woHld seem before the
grim power or Germany. which has
hitherto known no relenting and no
pity. Their power. apparently, Is shat
tered And yet. their soul lis not sub
servient They viii not yield either
in principle or in action. Their con-
ceptiop Of what is right, of what
is humane and honorable. for them
to accept. had been stated with a
trankness. a largeness of view, a gem
crosby ~ spirit. and universal human
sympathy. which must challenge the
admiration of every friend OF man
kind; and they have refused 10 com
pound their ideals or desert others that
they themselves may be safe, They call
10 us to say what Il in that we desire,
in what, Il anything, our purpose and
our spirit differ from theirs: and !
believe that the people of the United
states would wish me to respond with
utter simplicity and frankness.
Whether their present leaders be-
IieNc il or not, II Is our heartfelt de-
sire and hope that some way may be
opened whereby we may be permitted
70 assist the people of Russia to at
tain their utmost hope OF liberty and
well-ordered peace. II will be our
wish and purpose that the processes OF
peace, when they are begun. shall be
absolutely open and that they shall
Involve and perfnit henceforth no Sc
cret understandings Of any kind The
day of conquest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT 10
gone ny; so Is also the day OF secret
covenants entered into in tho interest
Of particular governments and likely
the peace Of the world II ia this
happy fact now clear TO the view OF
every public man whose thoughts do
not still linger in an age that liz dead
and gone which makes II possible for
every nation, whose purpose are con-
sistent with justice and the peace OF
the world. TO evow now or at any
other time the objects ~ has In view.
Only One Course Open.
We entered his war because viola
lions Of right had occurred which
touched us 10 the quick and made the
life OF our own people i'm possible I'M
less they were corrected and the world
secured once for all against their re-
: rurrence, What we demand in this
war. therefore. is nothing peculiar to
ourselves r. 10 that the world be
made flt ard safe 10 live in; and par
ticularly that It lie made safe for every
( peace loving nation which. like our
own, wishes 70 live it's own life, de-
| termine its own institutions, he
assured OF justice and fair dealing by
the other peoples Of the world as
against force and selfish aggression.
Z All the peoples of the world are In
effect mariners In this interest and for
our own part we see clearly that un-
less Justice be done TO others it will
not be done 10 us The program OF
the worlds peace, therefore, is our
program; and that program, the only
possible program, al we see II, is;
e. Open covenants or peace.
oucnly arrived at. after inter
there shall he no private inter-
national nndersi andiu9s OF any
kind; but diplomacy shall pro-
cecf always frankly and In the
public view.
q Ahsot,,tr s~xDnHov,a ~ yavtva
ton upon the ee9,s outside terri
toTfai waters. alike in peace and
In war, except as the seas may be
closed In whole or I'm part by in
ternational action for the enforce
nlcnt ~ International covenants.
3. Removal. so far ms possible,
Of all economic barriers and the
+, establishment Of mn equality Of
trade conditions among all the
nations consenting TO the peace
and associattng themselves for its
maintenance.
/ 4. Adequate guarantees given
and taken that national arrna-
ments viii be reduced TO the low
est points consistent with domes-
tic safety.
3. Free, open minded and alb
soiutely impartial adlustm ni OF
all colonial claims based upon a
EKTRsT OlSfFNAfCt Oh tGtts
that I'm determining all such qucs-
ttons OF sovereignty the interests
Of the populations concerned must
have equal weight with the equf-
table claims of the government
whose title IL to he determined.
O. Evacuation Of ali Russian
territory and such settlement OF
all questions affecting Russia as
will secure the best and frccst CO.
operation OF the other nations of
I the world I'm obtaining for her Avn
unlIampered and unemtarrased
! opportunity for the Independents
| determination OF her own ysoitfi-
cal development and national poi
1 icy and assure her Of "A sincere
welcome into the society of free
nations under institutions Of her
OWN choosing and more than
welcome, assistance also OF every
kind that she may need and may
herself desire. The treatment Rc-
corded Russia by her sister nn-
| ttons I'm the months to come will
/ he the acid test of their good will.
! M distinguished from their own
J interests. and OF their intelligent
and unscliish sympathy.
Z. Belgium. the whole world
WIN agree, uiusf he evacuated and
restored without any attempt to
limit the soyere4gnty which SHE