Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-08
u. S. PEACE TERMS
GIVEN BY PRESIDENT
CONTINUED from Page ~

n open nnd hopeless contradiction
These are very serious and psninen
question: Upon the answer % theV
depends the peace OF the void
But what ever the result o. tn
pGrleys O. nrrstLito,sk; Whatevr
the conf ls.un Of counse, and o. pur
pose in The u,teyanets u. the sfoE-s
men ii the Central Powers. They haN'
spain attempted 10 4cqualEf the wori,
with heir objects IN The war M
have again challenged their adscr
saries a. SAY What their objects arr
anu villa, sort Ot settlement thei
would deem just and sa,isiG1tor.
There Is uo good reason why thai
I Challege should HOl be responded 10
and responded 10 with the utmost
cand0r We did not wait lor IT, Not
once. bat AGAIN ana again. Wc have
laid our whole thought and purpose
before the world. not in scno-.l terms
only. bat each line with surticien 70
make il clear What sort OF government
terms o. settlement, most necessarily
( spring out Of them.
Within the last week Mr.. Lloyd
George has spoken with admirable
candor and in admirable spirit for tho
people and government OF Great Bri-
! tain. There il no confusion OF coun-
J .nl : bn or Ri .ft hn ~
! trail Powers. no uncertainties OF Prin-
. cples. no vagueness OF detail. The
only secrecy ot control the only LAT n
( f fearless frankness, the only tail
IRE 10 make definite statements OF
, he objects Of the war. lies with Ger
many and her allies The issues OF
| life and death hang upon the delini-
I ions. No statesman who has the least
conception OF his sponsibllitisy
ought for 4 moment To permit himself
70 continue this practical and appal-
ing outpolriug nl blood and treasure
nless he is sure beyond 4 pre-ad-
Yenture that the objects OF the vital
sacrifice and part and parcel OF the
cry life Of society and that ot the
eople fer whom he speaks think
hem tight and imperative as he does.
There is. moreover, voice calling
for these definitions Of principals and
OF purpose which Is. il seems to nae.
more thrilling and more compelling
han any OF the moving voices With
which the troubled air OF the war il
filed. Il il the voice OF the Russian
people they are PROSTATE and all but
hopeless. L would seem, before the
iream Of power OF Germany which
has hitherto known no resulting and
no pity. Their power, apparently. IL
F, battered. Aud yet their soul is rot
| subservient. They will no, yield. eilh-
or in principal or in action. Their cJn.
! 'eption Of what is right, OF what il
humane ana honorable for them to
,ccept. has been stated with frank
ness, a largeness Of view. generosity
{ spiri. and q universal! human sym
,a,hy which must challenge the ad-
niration OF every friend OF mankinl,
nj they have refused to compound
heir deals or desert others tha, they
| themselves may be safe.
They call TO Us to save what it Is
We desire, in what il in anything,
,ur purpose and our spirit differ from
heirs; and believe thai the people
II the United States would wish TO
'espond. vita utter simplicity and
| franknoss. Whether ib9ir present "
lions 6elioVes Il or not it ia our heart
'alt desire and hope that some way
nay be opened whereby We may be
! privileged 70 assist he people OF Rus-
/ ia to attain their utmost hope Of lib
orty and ordered peace.
Il viii be our wish and purpose that
he processes 0f peace. when they are
'egun, shall be absolutely open and
hat they shall involve ANA permit
, lenCeforth ~ secret understandings
# any Kind. The day OF conquest
nd ACKNOWLEDGMENT IL gone far. so
! also the days OF secret covenants
uttered into in The interests OF par
enlar governments and likely at
ONE unlocked for moment 70 accept
Z ne peace OF the world II is this
/ lappy Tact, now clear 20 the view OF
very public man whose thoughta do
lot stlil linger IN an age chat IL dead
| ma gone which makes il possible for
! every nation whose purposes are con.
| ,istent with justice and the peace OF
! ne world to avow now, or at any
fther time the objects II has In view.
We entered this war because viola.
| i0ns OF right had occurred which cut
! rs 10 the quick and made The life
,of our own people impossible unless
| hey we're corrected and the world
/ secured once for all against their re.
Hurrcnce What We demand in this
war, therefore, il nothing peculiar to
| ourselves. Il is that The world be
made III and safe TO live In ana par.
| iculariy that IL be- made safe for
very peaee-loying nation, which, like
/ 1ur own, wishes 10 leave It's own life,
determine its own institutions, be
assured OF justice and fair dealing
by the peoples of the world as
agalns: force and selfish aggression.
Nj the peoples Of The world are in
effect partners in this interest and for