The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-28

understandings with particular ma
lions, let me say also that the United
States is prepared to assume It's full
share of responsibility for the main
tenance of common covenants ana un-
derstandings upon which peace
must henceforth rest We still read
washington's immortal warning
against "entangiing alliances" with
full comprehension and an answering
purpose. But only special and iimneo
alliances entangle, and we recognize
and accept the duty of a new day IN
which we are permitted to hope for
a general alliance which will avoid
entanglements and clear the ar OF the
world for common understandings and
the maintenance OF common rights.
IT have made this analysis of the i
international situation which the war
has created, not, of course, because
doubted whether the leaders OF the
great nations and peoples with WnoM
we are associated were OF the same
mind and entertained like purpose.
but because the air every now anu
again gets darkened By mists and
groundless doubtings and mischfevous
perversions of counsel and 1t is neces-
sary once and again to sweep all the
irresponsible talk about peace IN
| trigues and weakening morale and
doubtful purpose on the part of those
| in authority utterly and, II need be.
unceremoniously aside and say things
| in the plainest words that can pc
| found, even when 1t is only to say over
again what has been said before. quite
as plainly If in less unvarnished terms.
No Muddy Waters.
"As I have said, neither I. nor any
other man in governmental autnority y
created or gave form to the issues OF
this war I have simply responded TO
them with such vision as could com
| mand. But I have responded gladly
and with resolution that has grown
i firmer and more confident as the is
sues have grown clearer and clearer.
| 1t is now plain that there are issues
| which no man can pervert unless 1t De
| willfully. I am bound to flight for
them and happy to fight for them as
time and circumstance have revealed
them to me as to all the world. Our
enthusiasm for them grows more and
more Irresistible as they stand out in
more and more vivid and unmistak-
able outline.
"And the forces that fight for them
draw into closer and closer array, or
ganize their millions into more and
more unconquerable might, as they
become more and more distinct to the
thought and purpose of the peoples
engaged. It is the popularity of this
great war that. while statesmen have
seemed to cast about for definitions of
their purpose and have sometimes
seemed to shift their ground and their
point of view. the thought of the mass
of men whom statesmen are supposed
to instruct and lead has grown more
and more unclouded. more and more
certain of what it Is that they are
fighting for. National purposes have
fallen more and more into the back
ground and the common purpose of
enlightened mankind has taken their
, place. The counsels of plain men
, have become on all hands more sim.
pie and Straightforward and more uni
fed than the counse1s of sophisticated
men OF affairs who still retain the i'm
preston that they are playing game
! of power and playing for high stakes
: That is why have said that this is
, the peoples war, not a statesmen's
: Statesmen must follow the clarified
; common thought or be broken
Il take that to be the significance Of
r the fact that assemblies and associa.
tons of many kinds made up Of plair
+ workaday people have demanded al
f most every time they came together
. and are still demanding, that the lead
+ . ers Of their governments declare t.
them plainly what It is, exactly wha
1t is, that they were seeking in thi.
: war, and what they think the items
oftthe final settlement should be.
: They are not yet satisfied with
what they have been told. They still
. seem to fear that they are getting whai
9 they ask for only in statesmen's. term:
i / only in the terms of territorial ar
= ran gementS and divisions of power
g ! and not in terms of broad visienet
v justice and mercy and peace, and thu
e satisfaction of those deep-seated long
f ings of oppressed and distracted meI
e and women and enslayed peoples tina
| seem to them the only things worth
s fighting a war for that engulfs tx.
e world. Perhaps statesmen have nc
e always recognized this changed aspec
| of the whole world Of policy ant
: action. Perhaps they have not Away
e spoken in direct reply to the questions
d asked because they did not know how
q searching those questions were apt
s what sort of answer they demand.
A Peace by the Sword.
"But 1, for. one, am glad to attemp
the answer again and again, in thu
hope that may make it clearer ant
l. clearer that my one thought is to sat
e isfy those who struggle in the rank
: and are, perhaps. above all others, en-
n titled to reply whose meaning no on
n can have any excuse for misundef
d standing. If he understands the Ian
n guage in which it is spoken or can ge
Il some one to translate 1t correctly int
r his own. And 1 believe that the lead