Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-12

There must also be a meaning in
the conditions under which the speech
was delivered, Heretofore the presi.
dent has sent some forewarning to
such leading administration men as
Martin and Lewis and Ollie James in
the Senate and to such men as Harry
Flood OF the military committee Of
the House.
Speech Comes as Entire Surprise.
Yesterday not one of these gentle.
men nor any member OF either house
had the slightest indication of the
Presidents intention until the early
editions OF the afternoon papers an
nounced the fact about one hour be.
fore the address.
Why this extraordinary speed and
this unusual secrecy attending the
sLeecho
Let MS put few facts together.
Earl Reading. the new high com
missioner and ambassador of Eng
land. reached Washington on Satur.
day, coming to the capital with a
speed which might imply he was the
bearer OF some pressing and import
ant message of great moment. He
had an early conference with The
President
On Sunday Col. House came hastily
to Washington. his visit being parti.
cally coincdent with that OF the Bri.
fish ambassador
There is more than one thoughtful
man in and out of Congress today
who carries the impression that the
British ambassador has brought to
the President news concerning the
situation In Austria and the real at
titude OF Count Czernin and his peo
pie, which has resulted in Fastening
for profound purpose the extraor
binary deliverance heard in Congress
yesterday.
Whether that message conveyed
the assurance that the Austrian chan
cellor Is even farther advanced than
we think in his concurrence with the
American aims and attitude Oh
whether Austria has found il possible
to communicate to England and thrL
England 10 America a real desire &c
make peace with or without Germany
il is certain the Presidents speech is
far in advance toward Negotiations o.
any utterance previously made BY
England or France or Germany, OF
even Austria herself.
Peace is at Hand Congress Opinion
II Is the opinion of many members
Of Congress that we are PRACTICAL,
at the peace table now. andthat thes,
several international speeches, made
in such rapid succession. are reall,
preliminary expressions preceding thu
formal putting Of international fec
under the conference table.
With all the great leaders of tn,
nations. I.loyd.George and Clemen
ceau. Won Hertling and Czernn. ant
as a climax Woodrow Wilson. havini
now twice expressed themselves a
TO the terms OF. peace. and each utter
ance having progressed far beyon'
each preceding utterance In removin
obstacles, the international atmos
pherc comes nearer to promise o
peace than II has since the beginnin
Of the war.
There can be- no doubt that th
Presidents address delivered Jan.
filed tho minds and the lips Of tn
people Of Germany and the people Q
Austria with arguments for peace an
arguments against the continuance Q
var.
Germany is made TO see in word
of simplicity and clearness that tn
only thing keeping the world and he
own War.Worn and weary people |
bloody war is the militaristic elemen
led by Won Hertling and Hindenbur
and the Prussian spirit.
The German people must realize a
the President challenges Won Her
ling that he is speaking in the eour
Of mankind and that all the awakene
nations Of the world now sit in jud!
ment to what the public men and III
people Of Germany are going to d
upon the issues OF conflict whlc
has spread to every region of tb
world