The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-10-22

claims shall be held illegal and void"
In Ike manner it should be pro-
vided at the end OF the present war
that no debt incurred either by the
empire of Germany or that of Aus
tria-Hungary in aid of the present
war shall be paid, but It shall be hello
illegal and void. The continuance of
this debt would be an impossible
burden for the people OF these Gen.
trail powers IL the indemnity befors
( mentioned is provided. II is better
to cancel 1t at once. 1t would be
right to make some provision for
small holders, who would be impov-
erished by the loss of all their saw
ngs. But the debt was contracted
for purposes Of aggression and crime
and is therefore illegal and valid.
These propositions will seem rad
Iical. But the fundamental princi-
pie upon which they are based is the
sole JUSTIFICATION for the entrance Of
America into the war, namely, that
the war is war Of aggression be-
gun by the Central empires as part
Of a plan to subjugate the world,
and that in the course of the war.
they have committed every possible
crime. When this is remembered,
It will appear that these terms are
just and that the enforcement of
them is the only possible security
against mother war. In reality they
are far more merciful and less like
, ly to promote continued rancor than
would the boycott proposed by many.
The author OF this article was one
of the first to urge upon the Govern
ment and people of the United States
Immediately after the sinking OF the
= Lusitania, the America should inter-
vene in defense Of her own rights
3 and the rights Of all nations; that
. convoy should be provided for mer-
; chant shipping: and that the German
ships and terminals which were
within our Jurisdiction should be
seized. Our Government, with the
I unanimous approval Of our people
has finally done all this. 1t has de-
clared war in righteous cause; our
people are mourning countless sacri.
y fees In the prosecution of that wal
y and we must never rest until the oh
jects for which we began 1t are &C
complished.
These were summed up by the
president in his reply to the com.
municotionof Holiness Benedict XIV
Peace should rest upon the rights
Of peoples. not the rights Of govern.
ments-the rights OF peoples. grea,
or small. weak or powerful--theil
right to freedom and security and
government.
One advantage Of dealing with oul
treacherous foe in the manner pro-
posed is this: Our victorious armies
will ere long be In Germany. The
Indignation that has been reused
in the soldiers breast by the crimes
committed would naturally lead to
retaliation. II the Allies should
announce their fixed purpose to pun.
ish the real criminals and spare the
civilian population who have no,
shared in the crimes. the latter
would be more mercifully treated.
Another advantage would be this
The German leaders nave stimulated
the population at home ( renewed
sacrifice by assuring them II tho Al.
lies conquer and get footing In
( Germany the people there would
suffer as the French and Belgians
have suffered. This appeal has been
effective. II we make II known that
the contrary will be the case and
4 that our aim will not be the desola.
\ ton of the country, but the punish.
ment OF the real iriminals--in O
word" retributive justice" - the
German leaders will find their PEG.