Evening star., 1918-04-14
PREDICTS failure
OF HUN OFFENSIVE
Secretary Daniels Discusses
Drive in France as "Supreme
Struggle Of Autocracy."

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. April 1s.-Failure Of the
latest German drive in Flanders and
France. tho supreme struggle of au-
tocracy." was predicted by Josephus
Daniels. Secretary OF the Navy, in an
address here tonight before the Ma
tional Democratic Club.
The chief speaker at the clubs cele-
bration of the 175th anniversary of the
birth of Thomas Jefferson, Secretary
Daniels said that we now are seeing
fulfilled Jefferson's prophecy concern
ing France and the United States. that
mutual good offices. mutual affection
and similar principles of government
seem to destine the two nations for
the most intimate communion"
Every day." he said, "as we eagerly
and anxiously scan the news columns
to learn the news from the batt1efelds
of France, we rejoice that brave Amer
icans. fighting side by side with the
French. are cementing old friendships
in the death struggle with autocracy
and in defense of common interests and
common principles to preserve free gov
ernment to the world.
Are Fighting as Brothers.
To-day. when all which their blood
and the sacrifice of other days have
cost is imperiled. we are lighting as
brothers" said Mr.. Daniels. American
soldiers are as proud to fight under
I'och as I4afayette's soldiers were proud
to fight under Washington.
'Tn the Declaration of Independence
IS an abstract which today, backed by
the might of people who have enjoyed
free government, is the rebuke and
stumbling block to tyranny and oppres-
sion. 1t stands in the path of force and
ruthlessness sometimes driven back,
sometimes overpowered by the fumes
of venom, sometimes outnumbered by
those who had planned to be masters
of the world by might. But through
travail, through suffering, through the
supreme sacrifice. the force of right
eousness. battles on. confident that right
will triumph and tyranny will be
crushed.
Despotism Versus Democracy.
The mortal conflict between despot-
ism and democracy is on. Never doubt
the end, even in the darkest hour. God
rules in the heavens. All will be well
with the world. and the fate that befell
the Napoleons and the Caesars and the
Hannibals viii befall the kaiser.
THE latest drive in France is the su-
preme struggle of autocracy. The Ger
man wan lords knew they must win
before America could throw its full
strength into the struggle. That is
why the drive is made now, but 1t will
not avail.
France and England will hold fast
and we are coming millions strong as
rapidly as ships can transport men and
supplies. No nation was ever yet vic
torious unless it could control the seas.
Battling With German Greed.
Between the German greed and fury
stand the brave men of England,
France and the other allies. Between
them and victory also floats the allied
navies And back of army and navy,
with teeth set. flint faced. resolute. de-
termined millions will win in their
light for the principles Jefferson in
cArnated In the immortal declaration"
When American survivors return VIC
torfous. Mr.. Daniels added. '1et no man,
woman or child dare show their heads
unless. in this crisis, they did all they
could by personal service. or buying
bonds or thrift stamps"
. Senator Hollis a Speaker.
Omitted States Senator Henry F. Hollis
ef New Hampshire. another speaker,
asserted that after the war old issues,
suoh as the tariff and even prohibition
and woman suffrage. viii no longer
construction or industrial democracy"
win be the problem of the day.
we are in this war to make the
world decent place to live in." said
Senator Hollis. After the war we must
make the United States the most decent
place in a decent world.
I'VE must forego the luxury Of an
tdle past. All must work and all must
enjoy in proportion to their merits and
their products. There must be genuine
cooperation in production and distri-
button. The very rich and the very
poor must disappear in the United
States. II we are to reap the Just fruits
Of our war for democracy
They will disappear gradually and
legally, through no revolution, II we be
wise and steadfast. but through in
heritance, income and excess profits
taxes and fair division Of profits
without recourse to confscation or so,
cialists' dream of 4 summary division
of capital"