Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-11-22
PEACE.

With the signing Of the armistice and
the cessation Of hostilities on the eleventh
Of November. the way is opened for peace
treaty which it is to be hoped will endure
through many generations and secure the
orderly progress Of the world. AS between
the Allies and the Central Powers. the
terms OF the treaty will be dictated by the
victors of the war. In view Of the conduct
of the war by Germany and the nations
that aided her. it is reasonable and just to
expect such terms as will hereafter pre-
vent the organization OF another effort to
accomplish the industrial conquest of the
world by the sword, and will also in large
measure compensate the invaded countries
for the wanton devastation committed by
the armies under the control of the Ger
man High Command.
The victory won by the Allies is splendid
in its proportions and writes page Of
history OF which all who participated in it
may justly feel proud and its splendor
may be frightened many fold IL wisdom
and justice preside at the peace table. 1t is
not to be forgotten. however. that the very
magnitude Of the triumph. and the many
interests. both national and racial, which
have multiplied during the closing days of
the war, have increased the difficulties
which will confront the ENJOYS and added
immensely to their responsibility. Many
Of the peoples who are directly interested
in the terms Of the treaty. and who have
contributed in one way or another to the
victory, have not had the advantage Of
education, experience and International
interchange which the principal allies have
enjoyed. and cannot be expected to COM
mand the perspective which reveals the
horizon Of world politics. The situation is
one that calls for infinite tact and patience,
for 1t involves the suppression Of fanati-
cism and passion which always follow In
the wake Of war, and which the very weari-
ness and want that now prevail In so many
places may spur to unreasonine excuses.
But while these possibilities must be
kept In mind. there is reason for the hope
and belief that those nations which have
most at stake. and upon whom the safe
guarding Of the future must rest, will have
sufficient influence to guide the weaker
states in the path Of permanent safety.
and to so adjust conflicting interests that
with the return to the ways Of peace the
justice OF the settlement will be recognized
by majorities SO large that turbulent and
irreconcilable elements will be impotent to
disturb the general welfare Of the nations.
The coming Of peace does not relieve
our own people Of many Of the burdens OF
war. Unfortunately. those burdens always
remain long after arms are stacked and
the battle flags are furled But, consider
ing the magnitude Of the task we under
took (and which we could not escape with
honor), we are, in comparison with other
nations. scarcely touched by the breath OF
war Grief has come to many households.
1t is true, wounded men will walk our streets
for years to come. but our man power has
not been materially depleted and our pro-
ductive capacity remains intact. The feet
of hostile soldiers Lave not invaded our
soil and our material losses amount to
practically nothing.
In dollars and cents the cost Of our i'm
munity has been heavy and for long time
our tax bills will remind us Of the greatest
of all the worlds wars. But these burdens
should be borne cheerfully. or at least
manfully, when we remember what we
have escaped and how much we have con-
tributed to the overthrow Of ruthless
tyranny from which, had 1t been successful,
we would have been sooner or later. per-
haps. the greatest sufferer. And we should
hail the triumph Of our arms in the spirit
Of thanksgiving, because it has brought us
so speedily the blessings Of peace and the
larger responsibility Of guarding and keep
Ing it throughout the years to come.