Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-01-12

Following is the complete text OF President Wilson's
address before congress Tuesday:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
Once more as repeatedly before the spokesman of the
central empires have indicated their desire to discuss
the objects Of the and the possible basis of general
peace Parleys have been in progress at Brest-Ltoysk
between Russian representatives and representatives OF
the central powers to which the attention of all the be-
gerens has been invited for the purpose Of ascertanng
whether may be possible to extend these pareys into
general conference with regard to of peace and
settlement.
The Russian representatives presented not only per
fecty definite statement Of the principles upon which
they would be willing to conclude peace but also an
equally definite program Of the concrete application Of
those principles.
The representatives of the central powers on their
part presented an outline of settlement which, if much
less definite, seemed susceptible of liberal Interpretation
until their specific program of practical terms added
That program proposed concessions at all either to
sovereignty of Russia to the preferences of the popa
ton with whose fortunes it dealt; but meant in word
that the central empires to keep every foot of terri
tory their armed forces had occupiedevery province
every city, every point of vantage-as permanent ad
dition to their territories and their power.
It is reasonable conjecture that the general principles
the liberal statesmen of Germany and Austria, the
who have begun to feel the force Of their peoples
thought and purposes while the concrete of actual
settlement from the military leaders who have
thought but to keep what they have got The negota-
tons have been broken off The Russian representatives
were sincere and in earnest. They cannot entertain
such proposals OF conquest and domination.
The whole incident is full of significance 1t also is
full of perplexity With whom the Russian represen
tatives dealing? For whom the representatives of
the central powers speaking? Are they speaking for the
majority parties that military and mperiastic minority
which has far dominated their whole policy and control
in the affairs Of Turkey and Of the Balkan states which
have felt obliged to become their associates in this
The Russian representatives have insisted very Justly
very wisely and in the true spirit of democracy that the
conferences they have been holding with the Teutonc
and Turkish statesmen should be held within open not
closed DOORS and all the world has been audience as was
desired TO whom have been listening then? To-
those who speak the spirit and intention of the resolution
of the German reichstag July last the spirit and
intention of the liberal leaders and parties of Germany or
to those who resist and defy that spirit and intention
and insist upon conquest and subiugation Or are wei
listening in fact to both mreconcied and in open and
hopeless contradiction?
These very serious and pregnant questions Upon
the answer to them depends the peace of the world
But whatever the results Of the pareys at Bres Ltovsk
whatever the conusons Of counsel and of purpose the
utterances of the spokese Of the central empires they
have again attempted to acquant the world with their
objects in the and have again challenged their adver
sares say what their objects and what sort of settle
ment they would deem just and satisfactory There no
good reason why that challenge should not be responded
to with the utmost candor. We did not wait for it, Not
once, but again and again have laid whole thought
and purpose before the world in general terms only
but each time with sufficient definition to make it clear
what sort of definite terms of settlement necessarily
spring out of them.
Within the last week Mr. Lloyd George has spoken
with admirable candor and in admirable spirit for the
people and government of Great Britain There is no
confusion of counsel among the adversares Of the central