The sun., 1918-09-16

Ion OF the right OF each oppressed race
In Central Europe to govern itself and
to be freed from Its oppressor
tCheers.I
This means self government for the
1000, 900 Jugo Slavs OF Austria Hungary.
whether they want an independent gov
eminent or whether they prefer to as
sociate themselves with their Slavic
neishbors. Applause II means self
government for the 100000 Czecho-
Slovaks OF Austria, whether they want
to establish the Republic Of Bohemia or
prefer to associate themselves in any
other form Of government. 1t means
still inhabiting the fair land Of Poland
that was divided up and dismembered
by Russia, Austria and Germany.
1T means that each great race shall
be permitted to have it's own govern
ment and its own language and work
out its own destiny as long as II does
not interfere with the rights and indie
pendence OF other races.
America has taken this position un-
der the great leadership Of our great
President. Woodrow Wilson. He has
expressed tho thought on several oc-
casions. Let me quote one:
"'We believe these fundamental
things: First. that every people has a
right to choose the sovereignty under
which they shall live. Second. that the
small states of the world have a right
to enjoy the Same respect for their
sovereignty and for cir territorial in
tegrity that great and powerful nations.
expect and insist upon. And third that
the world has a right to be free from
every disturbance of Its peace that has
its origin In oppression and disregard of
the rights Of peoples and nations
Declaration Before War.
That was President Wilson's decla-
ration year before we entered the war
and 1t Is one Of the objects America Is
fighting for to-day. 1t means that law
and justice shall take the place Of brute
force among nations as they have in all
civilized countries among individuals.
Il believe II means league of nations
with only those admitted to its great
benefits that are willing to give sub
stantial guarantees TO abide by it's rules
Il believe II means ultimate and sub
stantial disarmament and l believe also
that We shall insist before the war ends
that as a measure of safety to the peace
OF the world every nation admitted to the
league of nations shall vest the war
making power exclusively in the hands
Of the representatives Of its people, duly
States The power to declare war. Il
vested in a Congress. or in a Parlia-
ment. or even in Reichstag. will not
be exercised for conquest and probably
not at all.
Some people and some statesmen may
hold that our country Is not Justified in
fighting for any such extreme war OBJ
jects as l have suggested. They may
truly argue that when our republic was
founded in this western hemisphere so
| far away from the old world and its
troubles. our forefathers sought to iso-
late the country and keep II free from
| entanglements and associations with
other nations. That was true, but 1t Is
possible no more and desirable no longer
This is not only the path OF honor
and glory for ourselves. but II Is the
path OF safety as well. Those who
object TO this programme assume that
it Is visionary and altruistic. As a
matter of fact II Is the way to win the
war and keep II won. We are fighting
not for a temporary triumph. but for
the permanent peace OF the world"
Prolonged applause
"There IL No Austrian Nation,
All the joyous uproar that had gone
before was redoubled when a tall slight
| man In a gray business suit who might
, easily have been mistaken for a Man
haitian business or professional man in
| his early COS. was introduced by Sena-
| tor Hitchcock. He was the Czecho- Slo-
walks own Woodrow Wilson. Prof.
Nasaryk. who had come here from Eu-
cope largely to obtain for his pro-
visional Czecho- Slovak Government the
recognition from America, which was
| SO gladly given.
There is no Austrian nation: there
is no Austrian language" said Prof.
Masaryk. after he had paid graceful
| tribute to Paderewski. who had lust
spoken. Austria Hungary Is composed
| OF nine nations. 1t is an utterly artificial
state, whose unity is brought about by
| the dynasty and army, with the support
| OF the aristocracy and hierarchy Aus
| tria- Hungary is. in spite of the camou-
| flaged constitution. absolutstic and
| autocratic, medieval. anti-democratic
! anti-national. Austria means the East
ern Empire. Austria was the eastern
mark OF the German Empire. Her aim
was to prepare the east for Germany,
and that she always did, the more SO
that the HapSburgs for centuries ruled
the German Empire for their dynastic
aims.
Free Nations VIII BE Born.
"Austria-Hungary will be replaced by
a barrier of smaller. yet strong nations,
which for centuries fought the Germa
! aggression from the Baltic to Italy,
and from Italy to Switzerland and
! France the Germans will have to face
Tree nations. (Long applause.)
| Next to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF Aus
tria-Hungary. the restoration OF Russia
| is OF vital importance. not only for these
| smaller nations forming that barrier, but
also for the Allies. To weaken and con =
troll Russia has always been the German
and Austrian plan. II Prussia and Aus
! tria control Russia they will master not
| only the Near but also the Far East
| The Austrian and German peace
moves confirm this political analysis. The
Germans will give up, Of course tempo
| rarily, the west, but they will try to
keep the east, and. above all. to preserve
Austria -Hungary. The Austrians devise
various plans of mock autonomy and
mock federation to bride tina oppres sed
nations and the Allies. Austria Hungary
in any form will always be a tool OF
Prussia. 1t Is the Austrian idea which
must be knled-'spirit murderer 1t has
been called by one of the greatest Aus
| trian poets. Austria-HunRary is, In
fact the organization of violence and
machiavellistic craft to domineer the ma =
iority by the minority. That, In fact is
the shameless aim of the Austro-
German and Magyar union.
To solve Ola Oriental Question.
This war. then. and the ensuing peace
conference has to solve the old Oriental
| questionable reconstruction and reor-