Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-04-17
WILSON ACCEPTS
AUTOCRACYS DEFY
Presidents Stirring Address in
Opening Liberty Loan Drive
at Baltimore.
CITES COST OF OUR DEFEAT
Reiterates csusel Leading to War and
Fairness America Guarantees in
Considering Peace Terms
With Germany.

Baltimore.-President Woodrow VII
son opened the Liberty Loan drive
here before an audience of 1000 peO-
pie. The occasion also was in obsery-
ance of the first anniversary of Amer
teas 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
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 to do, though
in itself imperative.
'Hhe people of the whole country
are alive to the necessity Of it and are
ready to lend 80 the utmost, even
where II involves a sharp skimping and
daily sacrifice 10 lend out Of meager
earnings
They win look with Reproduction and
contempt upon those who can aad will
not. upon those who demand a higher
rate of interest. upon those who think
of IL as mere commercial transac-
ti)n.
Il have not come. therefore. 10 urge
the loan. | have come only to give you.
If | can. more vivid conception of
what it Is for
The reasons for this great war. the
reason why 1t had to come, and the
need 10 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 par
ticular loan means because the cause
We are fighting for stands more sharp
~ revealed than at any previous crisis
Of the momeHtous struggle.
1.-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.
The Cost Of Defeat.
Men In America may be more sure
than they ever were before that the
cause IS their own. and that. II II
should he lost, their own great nations
place and mission IN the world would
be lost with It.
Il call you 10 witness. my fellow
countrymeu. that ar no stage Of this
terrible business have Judged the
purposes of Germany intemperateIy.
i should be ashamed In the pres
enee OF afrairs 80 grave. so fraught
with the destiuies Of mankind through
out all the world. TO speak with trucu-
lence To Use the weak language OF
hatred or vindIctive purpose. We must
judge rs we would be Judged
Il have sought to learn the objects
Germany has IN this war from the
mouths Of her own spokesman and 10
deal as frankly with them as wished
them to deal with me.
Il have laid bare our own ideals our
own purposes without reserve or doubt
ful phrase and have asked them to say
- lf+tAiNtt W nat IL ~ AltE seek.
Being Just TO Germany.
We have ourselves proposed no IN
justice. no aggression. We are ready,
whenever the final reckoning is made
10 he Just 10 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 10 be a righteous Judgment. To
propose anything but Justice. even
handed and dispasslonate Justice to
Germany az any time. whatever the
outcome Of the war. would be To re-
nounce and dishonor orr own cause
For we ask nothing that we are not
willing 10 accord
III has been with this thought that
have sought TO learn from those who
spoke for Germany whether II was ms
tiee or dominion or the execution Of
their own VIII upon the other nations
of the world that the German leaders
were seeking.
They have answered. answered In
unmlstakahle terms They have avow-
ed that 1t was not Justice but dornin.
Ion and the unhindered execution Of
their own viii.
What Peace Should Be Based On.
Her present chancellor has said
IN indefinite and uncertain terms. In.
deed and in phrases that often seem ia
deny their own meaning, bur with such
plaiuneSs rs he thought prudput-tbat
he believed that peace should be based
upon the principles which we had de-
clared would be our own in the final
settlement
AT Brest-LitovSk her civilian dele
gates spoke IN similar terms. pro
fessed their desire 10 conclude a faii
peace and accord to the peoples witt
whose fortunes they were dealing tn,
right 10 choose their own allegiances
"But action accompanied and fol
lowed the profession. Their militar,
masters. the men who &C; for Ger
many and exhibit her purpose in exc
cution. proclaimed a very differen
conclusion.
ave cannot mistake what they hav,