Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-04-18
fFesident's Stirring Address IN
Opening Liberty Loan Drive
al Baltimore.
CITES COST OF OUR DEFEAT
Sssitsratss causei Leading to War and
fairness America Guarantees In
Considering Peace Terms
With Germany.

49, SRChUa NAC AtOCIly AUdu oilhC
here before an audience of 1900 peo-
pie. The occasion also was In Observ-
ance Of the first anniversary of Amer
ica's entrance into the war. The presi-
dent said:
Fellow Citizens: This Is the ami
versary OF our acceptance OF Ger
many's challenge to fight for our right
10 live and be free and for the sacred
rights Of free men everywhere.
THE nation Is awake. There Is no
need to call to 1t. We know what the
war must c%ost--our utmost sacrifice.
the lives Of our fttest men, and, II
need be. all that we possess.
The loan We are met to discuss Is
o Of the least parts of what we are
called upon to give aud to do, though
In itself imperative.
"The people Of the whole country
are alive to the necessity Of 1t and are
ready to lend to the utmost, even
where 1t involves q sharp skimping and
daily sacrifice to lend out Of meager
earnings.
"They Will look with Reproduction and
contempt upon those who can and will
not, upon those who demand n higher
rate Of interest. upon those who think
of 1t as q mere commercial transac-
ton.
Il have not come, therefore, to urge
the loan. l have come only to give you.
II l can. a more vivid conception Of
what 1t Is for.
THE reasons for this great war. the
reason why 1t had to come, and the
need to fight it through and the issues
that hang upon Its outcome, are more
clearly disclosed now than ever be-
fore.
1T Is easy to see just what this par
hcular loan means because the cause
we are fighting for stands more sharp
~ revealed than at any previous crisis
OF the momcntous struggle.
1.-THE man who knows least can now
zee plainly how the cause of Justice
stands and what the imperishable
thing Is he Is asked to invest in.
The Cost Of Defeat.
Men In America may be more srre
than they ever were before that the
cause Is their own, and that, IL 1t
mould be lost, their own great nations
place and mission In the world would
be lost with II.
Il call you to witness, my fellow
countrymen, that at no stage Of this
terrible business have I judged the
purposes of Germany Unexpectedly,
Il should be ashamed In the pres
ence OF affairs so grave. so fraught
with the destinies of mankind through.
put all the world, to speak with trucu-
fence to use the weak language of
hatred or vindIctive purpose. We must
Judge as we would be Judged.
Il have sought to learn the objects
Germany has In this war from the
mouths OF her WI spokesman and to
deal as frankly with them as l wished
them to deal with me.
II have laid bare our own ideals. our
own purposes without reserve or doubt.
sui phrase and have asked'them to say
~ plainly what 1t Is they seek.
Being Just to Germany.
we nave 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 differences IN peo.
pies In the final Judgment II II Is in.
deed to be a righteous Judgment. To
eropose anything but justice, even.
handed and dispassionate Justice, to
Germany at any time, whatever the
outcome Of the war. would be TO re-.
aounce and dishonor orr " csuse.
Sor we ask nothing that we are not
willing to accord.
1t mas been with this thought that
lhave sought to learn from those who
spoke for Germany whether II was ina.
De- or dominion or the execution ~
aaeir own will upon the other nation,
q the world that the German leaders
were seeking.
They have answered. answered IN
snmlstakable terms. They have ayow
"a that 1t was not Justice but domin.
Q and the unhindered execution q
their own will.
what Peace Should Do Based On.
"Her present chancellor has said
q Indefinite and uncertain terms. IN
Seed, and In phrases that often seem I,
Asny their OWE meaning, but with sucl
yaainness a. he thought prudent-tha,
- believed that peace should be bsset
apon the principles which We had a.
S4ared would be our own In the ana
settlement.
AT Brest.Litovsk her civilian dele
gates spoke In similar terms: pro
asssed their desire to conclude 4 fai
0eecs and accord to the peoples Nd
whose fortunes they were dealing IN,
sagAt . choose their own alleeisnce.
But action accompanied and 70,
lowed The profession. Their militar
masters, the men who act for az,
many and exhibit her purpose n er,
lcution. proclaimed q very differcu
seonciusion.
I'VE cannot mistake what they hav