Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-18

only failure to make definite statement
OF the objects Of the war, lies with
Germany and her allies.
"The issues of life and death hang
upon these definitions. No statesman
who has the least conception of his re-
sponsibility ought for a moment to per-
NIT himself to continue this tragical
and appalling outpouring of blood and
treasure unless he is sure beyond Il
peradventure that the objects of the
vital sacrifice are part and parcel of
the very life of society and that the
people for whom he speaks think them
right and imperative as he does.
There is, moreover, a voice calling
for these definitions Of principle and
purpose which is, it seems to me, more
thrilling and more compelling than any
of the many moving voices with which
the troubled air of the world is filed.
1t is the voice of the Russian people.
They are PROSTATE and all but helpless,
it would seem, before the grim power
of Germany, which has hitherto known
no relenting and no pity.
Russ Power Shattered.
Their power apparently is shat
tered, and yet their soul is not sub
servient. They will not yield either in
principle or in action. The conception
of what is right, of what it is humane
and honorable for them to accept, has
been stated with frankness, q large
ness of view, generosity of spirit and
a universal human sympathy which
must challenge the admiration OF
every friend of mankind; and they
refused to compound their ideals or de-
sert others that they themselves may
| be safe.
"They call to US to say what it is
that we desire, in what, if in 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-
| lieve it or not, it is our heartfelt de-
sire and hope that some way may be
opened whereby we may be privileged
to assist the people of Russia to at
tain their utmost hope of liberty and
ordered peace.
No Secret Understandings.
at win be our wish and purpose that
the processes of peace, when they are
begun, shall be absolutely open and
that they shall involve and permit
henceforth no secret understandings OF
any kind. The day of conquest and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is gone by; so is also
the day of secret covenants entered in
to in the interest of particular govern.
ments and likely at some unlOoked-fol
moment to upset the peace of the
world.
"We entered this war because vio
lations of right had occurred which
touched us to the quick and made the
life of our own people impossible un
less they were corrected and the world
secured once for all against their re
currence.
what we demand in this war, there
fore is nothing peculiar to ourselves
'It is that the world be made fit ant
safe to live in: and particularly tha
be made safe for every peace-lov
ing nation which, like our own, wisf
to live its own life, determine It's owl
institutions, be assured of justice anC
fair dealing by the other peoples of tn,
world as against force and selfish az
gression.
"The program of the worlds peace
therefore, is our program, and tina
program, the only possible program, a
we see it, is this:
Wants Open Covenants.
1. Open covenants of peace, openl,
arrived at, after which there shall b.
no private international understand
ings of any kind, but diplomacy shal
proceed always frankly and in the pub
lie view.
2. Absolute freedom of navigation
upon the seas, outside territorial wa
ters. alike in peace and in war, excep
as the seas may be closed in whole o
in part by international action for tn
enforcement of international cove
nants.
3. The removal, so far as possible, 0
! all economic barriers and the estat
llshment of an equality of trade COZ
: ditions among all the nations consent
! ing to the peace and associating then
! selves for it's maintenance.
4. Adequate guarantees given and Il
! ken that national armaments will b
! reduced to the lowest point consister
, with domestic safety.
} 8. A free, open-minded and absolut,
ly impartial adjustment of all coloni;
] claims, based upon a strict observanc
of the principle that in determining a
t such questions of sovereignty the IL
D terests of the populations concerne
: must have equal weight with the equi
!. able claims of the government who's
r title is to be determined.
e Must EVacuate Russia.
t 9. The evacuation of all Russian te
o ritory and such O settlement of a
e questions affecting Russia as will s
y cure the best and freest cooperate
of the other nations of the world
obtaining for her an unhampered ar
d unembarrassed opportunity for the i
+ dependent determination of her oN
, political development and national DC
/. icy.
i Z. Belgium, the whole world wi
i agree, must be evacuated and restore
o without any attempt to limit the so
ereignty which she enjoys in commC
e with all other free nations. No 9th,
e single act will serve as this will SER