East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-06-04
An Article of Fact and Sentiment
By Jacob Gould Schurma President of Cornell University

In this matter the Interests Of our own
with the majesty and inviolability Of law,
justice and humanity. Can you not see
at once that IL German submarines are
Ito plough the seas the commerce Of tho
world will be at the mercy Of Germany
and America win be as much exposed to
its depredations as ar OF the countries
of Europe7 Engulfing the merchant ves-
sells and the travellers Of all nations in
a commoL destruction, the submarine
abrosates the security which our isolation
has hitherto conferred pom US AMI leaves
the' Monroe Doctrine little more than a
scrap Of paper.
Futdhe Guarantees.
But there is a third condition Of peace
which / desire to mention. In all Ger
man pronunciamentoes on the subject OF
peace you will find the demand for the
security Of Germany and guarantees for
the future. by these phrases. however.
German statesmen and writer's always
mean such annexations Of territory, such
rectifications Of frontier. such additions OF
coast line and such monopoly Of natural
resources as will in any future contin-
gency make Germany predominant, not
merely over any one nntion but over any
combination Of European nations. In
this programme the rights and Just secu-
rity Of other nations and the guarantees
to which they are equally entitled are
ignored. And It would be un-
natural II writers in seine Of these coun-
tries should not advocate by way Of re-
taliation similar chopping up Of Ger
man territory and a similar appropriation
Of German resources.
There can, however. be no permanent
international settlement Of the present
world context along these lines. Ger
many is, indeed. entitled 70 security in
The future; Gcrmapv should. indeed. hhVS
guarantees; hct tbs security and else
Grsrs ntees a:e not more imprrsiivs IL
the Gaze of Germany than they are IN ia
case OF England, Franss or Ghe Unjtsi
States. All civilized nstiors arc equally
endi!ad TO i.1inapity frnm the horsbrs ,.f
war an1 tao Iiea5re Of rserunar:srias
i'oacF centIcd In o sitg'r STATE or group.
Of States. - !; :so mach to hslr ti.ss iu
iLis twentieth crntIsy Of CLriSi;an civ
ilsa;ion the world has L,~ reach-J 4
stage In which una;s tho rale Of r.ssSm
and OF rigAt. HA ,ious, big Rhd sn;sll si;se,
may oecupy END ISe their own teri-
toriai domain ssfc from the spprv hcnsiou
OF danger of aI:Aek from ueixht.ounS Va.
dons9 An interNs:isNal c1auhAi1oa ~
the nations. and cstw ciaiiy Of tLS Ss.~n...
raeiea ot ;he ~orI4, fer tae p-rmaw.nt
Of t-a-s, law and hnsa4
should - uhs eo,minating cspdisisu< u
the eessatIe-, Of ;his colossal wSvA .Su
fiict No civilized nation should h-s.
after be permitted to wage war without
the consent Of the other nations Of The
world.
This Is the cause TO which we have
dedicated ourselves. There has been none
nobler In the history of nations. II Il
worth fighting for. worth dying for. Our
Republic cannot endure II Germany wins
10 this war. For the German ideals Of
autocracy, Of domination, Of ruthless
force and lawlessness are absolutely in
compatible with the ideals Of democracy.
lhe world is at the parting Of the ways.
Before rs are two sets Of ideals, two pol
cies OF government. two plans Of inter
relations. The one Is rooted in
lrbitrnry power. the other In democracy
md the reign Of law. Who can doubt
he Righteousness Of our cause7 who can
ioubt that It viii triumph3 The moral
forces Of the universe are behind IL