McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-01-18
PRESIDENT WILSON
GIVES FINAL PLANS
DEFINITE TERMS ENUMERATED
BY WHICH ENEMY CAN END
GREAT WORLD STRUGGLE.
ABSOLUTELY UP TO KAISER
President Wilson Takes Capital and
Congress by Complete Surprise
When He Calls Joint Session
and Delivers Peace Message.


Washington. terms specific and
questionable, President Wilson slip
ulated, before a joint session of con-
gress, the aims for which America Is
now fighting. This country, he said,
will continue the struggle until these
are achieved.
1t was the compelling voice Of
the Russian people" asking defini-
ton of Americas principles and pur-
pose." that prompted the president to
go before congress. 1t was largely to
Russia that his speech was directed.
He struck out at the sinister &C
tivities of the German rulers, de-
manded the light on all future nego-
tiations and treaties, and held RESP
lutte to his stand for territorial ad-
tustments that will insure peace.
Immediate attention was called to
the fact-and its significance-that
the president did not include elimina-
ton of the Hohenzollern dynasty as
war aim. But he laid down en-
phatically the necessity of all future
treaties and agreements being made
In the open.
The presidents address, following
closely on the heels of Lloyd Georges
statement Of England's war aims, con-
veys the unquestionable thought that
he believes peace may be drawing
nearer
He outlined IA terms-and each
was met by prolonged applause from
the legislators.
To realize this embodiment Of Gus
tice to all peoples and nationalities"
that may Give on equal terms of lib
erty and safety with one another,
whether they be strong or weak" the
president said the American people
will devote their lives and honor"
unless this principle be made its
foundation, no part of the structure
Of international justice can stand"
the president concluded.
The presidents message follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
Once more, as repeatedly before, the
spokesman Of the central empires have
indicated their desire to discuss the OBJ
jects of the, war and the possible basis
OF a general peace.
Parleys have been In progress at Brest
Litovsk between Russian representa-
tives and representatives of the central
powers to which the attention of all the
belligerents have been invited for the
be possible to extend the parleys into
general conference with regard to
terms of peace and settlement. The
Russian representatives presented not
the principles upon which they would
be willing to conclude peace, but also
an equally definite program of the con-
crete application Of those principles The
representatives of the central powers, on
their part, presented an outline of set
tlement which, II much less definite,
seemed susceptible of liberal interpreta-
ton until their specific program of prac-
tical terms was added.
No Concessions at All.
That program proposed no concessions
at all, either to the sovereignty of Rus
STA or to the reference of the popula-
lions with whose fortunes 1t dealt but
meant, in a word, that the central en-
pires were to keep every foot of terri
tory their armed forces had occupied
every province. every city. every point
of vantage-as permanent addition TO
their territories and their power. 1t is
a reasonable conjecture that the gen.
eral principles of settlement which they
at first suggested originated with the
more liberal statesmen of Germany and
Austria the men who have begun to feel
the force OF their own peoples thought
and purpose, while the concrete terms of
actual settlement came from the mill
tary leaders who have no thought but
to keep what they have got. The ne
sotiations have been broken off. Inc
Russian representatives were sincere
and in earnest. They cannot entertain
such proposals OF conquest and domin-
alton.
The whole incident is full of signifi-
canoe. 1t is also full of perplexity. With
whom are the Russian representatives
dealing? For whom are the representa-
tives of the central empires speaking:
Are they speaking for the majorities of
their respective parliaments or for the
minority parties. that military and i'm
perialistic minority party which has so
far designated their whole policy and
the Balkan states. which have felt
obliged to become their associates in
this war?
The Russian representatives have in
sisted. very Justly, very wisely. and in
that the conferences they have been
holding with the Teutonic and Turkish
statesmen should be held with open. not
closed. doors. and with the whole world
as an audience was desired.
To whom have we been listening
those who speak the spirit and inten-
ton of the resolutions of the German
reichstag Of the 9th of July, last, the
spirit and intention of the liberal lead
ers and parties of Germany or to those
who resist and defy that spirit and in
tention, and insist upon conquest and
subjugation? Or are we listening, in
fact, to both, unreconciled and In open
and hopeless contradiction? These are
very serious and pregnant uestions. Upon
the answer to them depends the peace
of the world.
But, whatever the results OF the par
leys at Brest Litovsk, whatever the con-
fusions of counsel and of purpose in the
utterances Of the spokesman of the Gen.
trail empires, they have again attempted
to acquaint the world with their objects
their adversaries to say what sort of set
Element they would deem just and salts
factory There is no good reason why
that challenge should d mot ,n be esH9ndes
candor We did not wait for it.
Have Told Purposes.
Not once, but again and again, have
we laid our whole thought and purpose
before the world, not in general terms
only, but each time with sufficient defi-
milton to make 1t clear what sort of
definitive terms of settlement must nee
essarily spring out of them. Within the
last week Mr.. LLOYD George has spoken
with admirable candor, and In admiral
Bile spirit, for the people and govern
ment of Great Britain There Is no con-
fusion of counsel among the adversaries
of the central powers, no uncertainty OF
principle, no vagueness of detail. The
only secrecy of counsel, the only lack
of fearless frankness, the only failure
to make, definite statements OF the OBJ
iects of the war lies with Germany and
her allies. The issues of life and death
hang upon these definitions.
No statesman who has the least con-
ception of his responsibility ought for a
moment to permit himself to continue
this tragical and appalling outpouring of
blood and treasure. unless he Is sure be-
yond a peradventure that the objects of
the vital sacrifice are part and parcel of
the very life of society, and that the peo-
pie for wnom he speaks think them right
and imperative, as he does.
Call for Definitions.
There is moreover a voice calling for
these definitions of principle and Of pur-
pose, which, it seems to me, are more
thrilling and compelling than any of the
many moving voices win which the
troubled air of the world is filled. 1t is
the voice OF the Russian people. They
are PROSTATE, and all but helpless, 1t
would seem before the grim power OF
Germany, which has hitherto known no