Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-28
PRESIDENT WILSON
EXPLAINS ISSUES
INVOLVED IN WAR
CONTINUED From rire, p,rc

sot.s ana races, OF every degree of
power and variety AZ fortune are In.
Vowed In It's eweeping processes of
ChahSe and settlement. We came into
~ when It's Character had become fully
dchned and II was plain that no nation
couid stand apart or be Indifferent to
rs KS outcome Its challenge drove 10
or lived for The voice Of the war had
become clear and gripped our hearts.
Our brothers from many lands. as we'll
as our own murdered dead under the
sea were calling 10 us and we respond :
ed. merely and OF course.
ACCEPTED THE ISSUES OF
THIS WAR AS FACTS
The air was clear about us. We saw
things In their full. convincing pro-
portions as they were: and we have
seen them with steady eyes and UNI
changing comprehension ever since
we accepted the issues OF the war as
FACTS, not as any group OF men either
mere or elsewhere had defined them.
ana we can accept no outcome which
Goes not s9uareiy meet and settle
tnem. THOSE issues are these:
Shall the military power OF any ma
non or group OF nations be suffered TO
determine the fortunes. OF peoples over
whom they have no right TO rule except
the right OF force?
shall strong nations be free to wrong
TO iheir purpose and interest?
snail people be ruled ana dominated
ersn IN their own Internal affairs by
their own Will and choi.c?
shall there be common STANDARD
OF right and privilege for all peoples
and nations. or shalt the strong do as
they viii and the weak suifer without
redress?
Snail the assertion OF right he hap
hazard and by casual alliance. or shall
there be common concert 10 obllge
the observance Of common rights?
No man. no group OF men. chose these
10 be the Issues OF the struggle. They
ere Tie Issues OF 1t, and they must be
A.4f la t.N
mise or adjustment OF interests. but
definitely ana once for all and with a
tull and uncduivocal acceptance OF the
principle that the interest OF the weak
est Is as sacred Is the interest OF tho
strongest
This is what we mean when We
speak OF permanent peace, II we
speak sincerely. inteilisentiy and with
real knowledge OF comprehension OF
the matter we deal with.
No PEACE ny ANY KIND
OF BARGAIN Oh COMPROMISE
We are all agreed that there can be
no peace obtained by any Kind of har-
gain or compromise with the govern
ments of the central empires, because
we have dealt with them already and
have seen them deal with other gov
crnments that were party TO this strug-
gle at Brest Lltovsk and Bucharest.
They have convinced us that they are
without honor and do not intend jus
tice. They observe no covenants, ac-
cept no principle but force and their
own interest We cannot come TO
impossible The German people must
by this time be fully aware that we
cannot accept the word OF those who
forced this war upon us We do not
think the same thoughts or speak the
same language of agreements.
II Is OF capital importance that We
should be explicitly agreed that no
lencc shall be obtained by any kind of
n "a "a NJ n
cip'es we have avowcd as the princi-
pos FOR which we are fighting. There
shrn,d exist 10 doubt about that. |
am. therefore, going to take the liberty
Of speaking with IL" utmost frankness
about the practical implications that
are involved in II.
IL it be in da' NJ in truth the
common object of l,r governments as
sociated against t:ar-nlry and of the
nations whom they govern, as be-
lieve 1t to be. 10 achieve by the coming
settlements secure and lasting peace,
it will be necessary that all who cit
down at the peace table shall come
ready and willing to pay the price, the
only price that will procure it. and
ready and willing, also. TO create in
me viri!e fashion the only instru-
mentality By which it can be made GER
tain that the agreements of the peace
will be honored and fulfilled.
PRICE OF SETTLEMENT
IS IMPARTIAL JUSTICE
That price is impartial justice in
every item of settlement, no matter
whose interest is crossed; not only i'm
partial justice. but also the satisfac-
ton Of the several peoples whose for
tunes are dealt with That indispensa-
bic instrumentaiity is a league of ma
lions formed under covenants that will
be efficacious. Without such instru-
mentality. by which the peace of the
world can be guaranteed. peace will
rest in part upon the word of outlaws
and only upon that word. For Ger
many Will have to redeem her char
acter, not only by what happens at
the peace table. but what follows.
And, as / see 1t, the constitution of
that league of nations and tho clear
definition of its objects> must be n
part. in n sense tho most essential par
OF the peace settlemcnt itself. II can
not be formed nov. If formed now, il
would be merely new alliance con
fined to the nations associated against
common enemy. 1t Is not likely that
it could be formed after that settle
mont 1t lie necessary to guarantee
the Deaec; and the peace cannot Dc