New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
Back to the Trenches

1t is manifest that the sober and rea-
soned Judgment of the country has sup
ported the conditions Of peace which
President Wilson stated in his memorable
speech of last Tuesday. The nation as a
whole has adopted the war aims set forth
by the President with unanimity which
is at once unquestionable and remarkable.
Henceforth there can be no honest agita-
ton for restatement of Allied war aims.
But it is essential now to recognize that
President Wilson's speech in laying down
the foundation of real peace made not
for immediate settlement but for resump-
ton of the war upon a scale hitherto un-
parallelcd even in this greatest of all
struggles The terms which Mr.. Wilson
offered to Germany are the only terms on
which the world can live at peace with
Germany: but they are terms which will
be resisted by the Hohenzollern empire
for long time to come.
1t is time now to stop talking about
peace and prepare for the great tests
which are to come. In defining the basis
Of settlement Mr.. Wilson has put the Ger
man military party and that portion Of
the German people which shared the ambi-
tions and aspirations of their rulers four
years ago upon their defence. Until Ger
hroal-c oithor tbrOnph ipGI1 CT trial
and economic disntegration or because
the German armies are decisively defeated
upon the battlefield, there will be no peace
on the Presidents terms. For the time
being Mr. Wilson has united the German
people against their enemies.
1t would be foolish and worse than fool
sh to misunderstood the fact. We are
further away from peace to-day-that is,
peace by negotiation-than we have been
at any time since America entered the
war There is not the smallest basis for
hope or belief that Germany will respond
with anything but resolute negative to
Mr.. Wilson's proposal which is identical
with Lloyd Georges previous outline Of
Allied peace terms.
Mr.. Wilson's peace terms demand the
destruction not alone Of that Mitteleuropa
which Germany has built up during the
present war; but also the surrender of the
dream Of such a central empire. A world
reorganized as the President proposes will
be world in which Germany will never
again have the opportunity to apply her
principles and her ambitions. A free Po-
land, a restored Serbia and Rumania. q
federalized Austria, in which autonomy is
granted to the subject races, will place
barriers on three sides of Germany, while
on the fourth France and Great Britain
will remain unconquered and hencefortf
unconquerable. The whole German am
biton Of world power will be reduced tc
dust and ashes by Mr.. Wilson's proposal
and to suppose that a Germany that be
N heves itself victorious will consent while
''A'''' e'iAN llUiltlVlS REMAIN is 10 SUPPOSE
what is Incredible
Mr. Wilson has uttered not a peace an
peal, but war appeal He has addresse,
the nations of the world in arms aeains
Germany, and his address, by restating tn
issues, is an inspiration to new effort, ne,
devotion, new sacrifice on the BATTLEFIELD
and behind it. Like Abraham Lincoln
s-Tond inaugural address, Mr.. Wilson
memorable speech is a war speech. 1t can
not be reasonably construed in any othe
way. 1t imposes terms to which only Al
enemy ready to acknowledge defeat woul,
consent. 1t means war; it means pro
traction of the war until there is had tn
one settlement which will make for peac
IN the decades that are to come Only i
this sense is it peace document
There is then for us all the present dut
and the future obligation. We have beel
told once more, eloquenty and convincing