The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-04-12

bSlieNeu IlldL peace SnOulu DE DaSed
upon the principles which we had de
clared would be our own in the final
settlement. At Brest-Litovsk her civil
ian delegates spoke in similar terms
professed their desire to conclude
fair peace and accord to the peoples
with whose fortunes they were dealing
the right to choose their own allegi-
ances. But action accompanied and
followed the profession. Their mile
tary masters, the men who act for Ger
many and exhibit her purpose in exc
cution, proclaimed very different con-
cluson. We can not mistake what they
have done-in Russia, in Finland, in
the Ukraine, in Rumania. The real
test of their Justice and fair play has
come. From this we may judge the
rest. They are enjoying in Russia
cheap triumph in which no brave or
gallant nation can long take pride. A
great people, helpless by their own act
lies for the time at their mercy. Their
fair professions are forgotten. They
nowhere set up justice, but everywhere
thing for their own use and aggran-
dizement; and the peoples Of con-
quered provinces are invited to be free
under their dominion.
Purpose of Teutons Plain.
Are we not justified in believing
that they would do the same things at
their western front if they We're not
there face to face with armies whom
even their countless divisions cannot
overcome? If, when they have felt
their check to be final, they should pro-
pose favorable and equitable terms
with regard to Belgium and France and
Italy, could they blame us if we con-
Guided that they did so only to assure
themselves of free hand in Russia
and the east?
"Their purpose undoubtedly is to
make all the Slavic peoples, all the
free and ambitious nations of the Bal
tic peninsula, all the lands that Turkey
has dominated and misruled, subject
to their will and ambition, and build
upon that dominion an empire of force
upon which they fancy they can then
erect an empire of gain and CONNER
| cial supremacy-an empire hostile to
the Americas as to the Europe which
\ it will overawe-an empire which will
ultimately master Persia, India and the
| peoples of the far east. In such pro-
| gram our ideals of justice and human
| lty and liberty, the principle of the free
| Self-determinatfon of nations upon
which all the modern world insists can
play no part. They are rejected for
| the ideals of power, for the principle
that the strong must rule the weak,
| that trade must follow the flag, wheth-
er those to whom it is taken welcome it
or not, that the peoples Of the world
are to be made subject to the patron,
age and overlordshfp of those who have
the power to enforce it.
Freedom of World at Stake.
'"That program once carried out
America and all who care or dare tx
stand with her must arm and prepare
themselves to contest the mastery Of
the world, mastery in which the
rights Of common men, the rights OF
women, and of all who are weak, must
for the time being, be trodden under
foot and disregarded, and the old, age,
long struggle for freedom and right be
gin again at it's beginning.
Everything that America has lived
for and loved and grown great to vim.
dictate and bring to a glorious realiza
ton will have fallen in utter ruin and
the gates of mercy once more pftilessly
shut upon mankind
THE thing is preposterous and i'm
possible! And yet is not that what
the whole course and action Of the Ger
man armies has meant wherever they
have moved? l do not wish, even il
this moment of utter establishment
to judge harshly or unrighteously.
Judge only what the German arms have
accomplished with IMPLYING thorough
ness throughout every fair region they
have touched.
"What, then, are we to do?
No MISLEADING Meaning.
For myself, l am ready, ready still
ready even now, to discuss a fair anC
Just and honest peace at any time tina
it is sincerely purposed-a peace il
which the strong and the weak shal
, fare alike; but the answer, when | pro
posed such peace, came from the
German commanders in Russia, and
cannot mistake the meaning of the an
swer.
Il accept the challenge I know
that you accept it. All the world shall
know that you accept it.
/ 1T shall appear in the utter sacri
! fee and self-forgetfulness with whtcl
we shall give all that we love and al
! that we have to redeem the world ant
, make it fit for free men like ourselve
to live in. This now is the meaning
of all that we do.
LET everything that we say, my fel
low countrymen, everything that W
5 henceforth plan and accomplish, con
, tinue to this response, until the ma
' jesty and might of our concerted powe
shall fill the thought and utterly defea
the force of those who flout and mis-
prize what we honor and hold dear.
Germany has once more said tina
force, and force alone, shall decid
: whether justice and peace shall reig
q in the affairs of men, whether right a
j America conceives it or dominion a
t she conceives it shall determine tn