The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-11

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only failure to make definite statement
of the object of the war, lies with Ger
many and her allies. The issues of
life and death hang upon these defini-
tons. No statesman who has the least
| conception of his responsibility ought
for a moment to permit himself to
continue this tragical and appalling
outpouring of blood and treasure un-
less he is sure beyond a peradventure
that the objects of the vital sacrifice
are part and parcel of the-very life
Of society and that the people for
whom he speaks think them right and
imperative as he does.
Definitions Called For.
There is, moreover, voice calling
for these definitions of principle and
of purpose which is, it seems to me,
more thrilling and more compelling
than any of the many moving voices
with which the troubled air of the
world is filled. 1t is the voice of the
Russian people. They are PROSTATE
and all but helpless, it would seem,
before the grim power of Germany,
which has hitherto known no relent-
ing and no pity. Their power, appar-
emily, is shattered. And yet their
soul is not, subveient. They will not
yield either in principle Or in action.
They call on us to say what it is
that we desire; in what, If anything,
our purpose and our spirit differ from
theirs. And believe that the people
of the United States would wish me to
respond, with utter simplicity and
frankness.
Wants Processes Open.
Whether their present leaders be-
lieve it or not, it is our heartfelt de-
sire that some way may be opened
whereby, we may be privileged to as
sist the people of Russia to attain
their utmost hope of liberty and or
dered peace. 1t will be our wish and
purpose that the processes of peace,
when they are begun, shall be abso-
lutely open and that they shall in
volve and permit henceforth no secret
understandings of any kind.
The day of conquest and aggran-
dizement is gone by; so is also the day
of secret covenants entered into in the
interest of particular governments
and likely at some unlocked for mo-
ment to upset the peace of the world. |
1t is this happy fact now clear to the
view of every public man whose |
thoughts do not still linger in an age
that is dead and gone which makes it |
possible for every nation whose pur- |
poses are consistent with justice and |
the peace of the world to avow now
OF at any other time the objects it |
has in view.
We entered this war because viola |
lions of right had occurred which |
touched us to the quick and made the |
life of our own people impossible un-
less they were corrected and the world |
secured once for all against their re-
currence.
Safe World To Live In Is Demand.
What we demand in this war, there |
fore, is nothing peculiar to ourselves. |
1t is that the world be made fit and |
safe to live in; and particularly that |
it be made safe for every peace loving |
nation which, like our own, wishes to |
live it's own life, determine its own in |
situations, be assured of justice and |
the world as against force and selfish |
aggression. All the people of the |
world are in effect partners in this in
terest and for our own part We see
very clearly that unless justice be |
done to others, it will not be done to
us. The program of the worlds peace,
therefore, is our program; and that
the only possible program,
as we see it, is this:
First-Open covenants of peace,
openly arrived at, after which
there shall be no private interna-
tional understandings of any kind
but diplomacy shall proceed al.
ways frankly and in the public
view.
Second-Absolute freedom of
navigation upon the seas, outside
territorial waters, alike in peace
and in war, except as the seas may
be closed in whole or in part by
international action for the en-
forcement of international cove
nants
Third-The removal, so far as
possible, of all economic barriers
and the establishment of an equal
ity of trade conditions among all
the national consenting to the
peace and associating themselves
for its maintenance.
Fourth = Adequate guarantees
given and taken that national arm
aments will be reduced to the low
est point consistent with domestic
safety.
Fifth-A free, open minded and
absolutely impartial adjustment
of all colonial claims, based upon
a strict observance of the princi-
Piles that in determining all such
questions o. sovereignty the inter-
ests OF the populations concerned
must have equal weight with equit-
able claims of the government
whose title is to be determined.
Sixth.-The evacuation of all Rus
sian territory and such settlement of
all questions affecting Russia as will
secure the best and freest cooperation
of the other nations of the world in
for her an unhampered and
unembarrassed opportunity for the in
dependent determination of her own
political development and national
policy and assure her of sincere well
come into the society of free nations
under institutions of her own choosing
and, more than welcome, assistance
also of every kind that she may need
and may herself desire. The treat
ment accorded Russia by her sister ma.