The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-07-12


great age upon whose inspiration we
draw today. This is surely n fitting
place from which calmly TO look out
upon our task, that we may fortlfy our
spirits for It's accomplishment And
this is the appropriate place from
which 10 avow, alike to the friends
who look on aud to the friends with
whom we have the happiness to be as
soCiated in action, the faith and pur
pose with which we act.
This, then, is our conception OF the
great struggle in which we are en-
gagged, The plot Is written plain upon
every scene and every act Of the SUI
preme tragedy. On the one hand stand
the peoples of the wOrld-not only the
peoples actually engaged but MANY
others also who suffer under mastery
but cannot act; peoples Of many races
and in every part of the world-the
people of stricken Russia still, among
the rest, though they are for the mo
ment unOrganIZed and helpless. Op.
posed TO them, masters of many arm
l'Nt NNulh IN lSulultht llltllNllteH RA'Al
Of governments who speak no common
purpose but only selfish ambitions of
their own by which none can profit
but themselves, and whose peoples
are fuel in their hands; governments
which fear their people and yet are
for the time their sovereign lords, max
ing every choice for them and diSpos
ing of their lives and fortunes as they
will, as well as of the lives and for.
tunes of every people VINO fall under |
their power governments clothed |
with the strange trappings and the
primitive authority of an age that is |
altogether alien and hostile to our |
own. The past and the present are in |
deadly grapple and the peoples of the
world are being done to death between |
them.
Settlement Must Be Final.
"There can be but one issue. The
settlement must be final. There can
be no compromise. No halfway de.
ciSon would be tolerable. No half.
way decision is conceivable These
are the ends for which the associated
peoples of the world are fighting and
which must be conceded them before
there can be peace: l. The destruction
Of every arbitrary power anywhere
that can separately, secretly and Of its
single choice disturb the peace of the
world; or if it cannot be presently de-
stroyed, at the least its reduction to
virtual impotence.
''2. The settlement of every question,
whether of territory, Of sovereignty, of
economic arrangement, or of political
upon the basis of the free
acceptance of that settlement by the
people Immediately concerned, and not
upon the basis of the material interest
u advantage of any other nation or
people which may desire different
settlement for the sake of its own eX.
erior influence or mastery.
50. The consent of all nations TO be
governed in their conduct towards
Zach other by the same principles of :
lOnor and of respect for the common
aw of civilized society that govern /
he individual citizens of all modern
tates in their relations with one an
ther; to the end that all promises and
oveuants may be sacredly observed, no p
,ryate plots or Conspiracies Matched, ;
10 selfish injuries wrought with impun-
ty, and a mutual trust established
pon the handsome foundation of
mutual respect for right.
a. The establishment of an organi-
alton of peace which shall make it :
ertain that the combined power of =,
rec nations will check every invasion 4,
f right and serve to make peace and
uStice the more secure by affOrdng
etinite tribunal of opinion to which
Il must submit and by which every l.
readiustment that cannot :
e amiCably agreed upon by the peo-
les directly concerned shall be sane [
oned.