The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-10-31
CRITICAL TINES AT HAND.

1885, after the United States had won its independence
and before it had formed more perfect union" ought
to reminder to the allied governments Of the
dangers that beset them while they casting about for
means to make the worlds liberty secure in peace The
critical period in American history was when the people
had liberty and did not know what to do with it. The
critical period of the worlds history may be when it has
beaten Germany and does not know what to do with the
liberty that has been won.
There need of beating about the bush concerning
President Wilson's famous Fourteen Points. They con-
stuted fairly comprehensive peace program at the time
hey were uttered but their author never contended that
they were aembracng and in the last few days he has
notified that they radically changed
The recent political upheaval in the United States has
shown that large proportion of the American people
will insist upon peace terms that are not included in the
Fourteen Points and Of course this public nsistence
will be felt in the senate when the historic hour arrives
for the ratification Of the peace treaty or treates
The ratification must be given by twothirds Of the
senator's present. and therefore the two great parties must
substantially united in approval of peace Moreover
there will be little executive session" secrecy
rounding the peace treaty for every one the country
including President Wilson, agrees that the time for
secret diplomacy is past The people Of the United
tates will not permit the government to commit them
to any arrangement with Germany even a beaten and
PROSTATE Germany unless the terms are all published in
full for all men to read.
But the attitude Of the United States only factor
IF problem that affects all humanity. Each of the allied
cations has it's peace terms in reserve to be brought
out in conference. Some of these terms may be mpos
ble of realization either because of the objections Of
the other allies because they infringe upon the rights
Of neuals Of peoples liberated from the enemy yoke
The great objective of the allied governments will be
Justice for ALL but there is good reason for uneasines
and apprehension in considering the difficulty of dealing
aut xact justice to the whole world in settling questions
ohand that have provoked wars for centuries Justice
is not quite fluid enough to be poured into great pot
from which the nations may take many ladlesful as
they are entitled to, no more and no less.
The unity of the allied nations in the war has been
admirable May it be as firm in devising peace But
the unity during the has been promoted by the pres
of deadly peril threatening all alike The allies have
been like the slaves of barrel upon which there was
a common pressure that held them together. They
obeyed instinct and that the strongest of alth
instinct of self-preserYaton But when the is won
and the pressure ceases and the enemy lies open and
exposed to punishment and exploitation the unity of the
allies win be subjected to terrible test Selfnteres
will replace self-preseraton as controlling motive and
the tendency will be exactly opposite that which drew the
allies together They will fly apart unless they now be
orehand agree upon the principles and most of the de-
enemy.
The time is short The enemy is disintegrating He is
traning every to throw the allies into prema
ure peace conference before they have agreed among
themselves upon what they want and what they can have
If Germany can lure the allies into peace conference
before the peace program agreed upon the probability
very strong that she win wrgge out unscathed if not
actually victorious through the dsagreements of the
allies and the possible rupture of the entente
The allies owe it to the world to organize instantly
supreme political council with full powers to meet be-
hind closed DOORS They should place before this council
without reserve all their individual peace demands The
council should do its utmost to adapt and reconcile these
demands Having assembled and agreed upon all these
peace terms the supreme council should Immediately
publish them broadcast the world word for word
hey to be imposed upon the enemy.
Unless procedure like this is followed the mill
airy victories will catch the political departments of the
lilies mapping and the governments will be compelled
% frame makeshift peace which, like all makeshifts
viii fall to pieces in time of storm.
The experience of the United States after the Revo-
uton is solemn warning to the allied governments to
hape their peace soidly while they have timeWashing
ton Post.