River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-01-17

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Central Empires, they have again at
tempted to acquaint the world with
their objects in the war and have
again challenged their adversaries to
say what their objects are and what
sort of settlement they would deem
just and satisfactory. There is no
good reason why that challenge should
not be responded to with the utmost
candor. We did not wait for it. Not
once, but again and again we have laid
our whole thought and purpose before
the world. Not in general terms only,
but each time with sufficient definition
to make it clear what sort of definite
terms Of settlement must necessarily
spring out of them. Within the last
week Mr. Lloyd George has spoken
with admirable candor and in admir-
able spirit for the people and govern
ment of Great Britain. There is no
confusion of counsel among the adver-
saries Of the Central Powers, no un-
certainty of principals, no vagueness
Of detail. The only secrecy of counsel,
the only lack of fearless frankness, the
only failure to make definite statement
Of the object of the war, lies with Ger
many and her allies. The issues of
life and death hang upon these defini-
tons. No statesman who has the least
conception of his responsibility ought
for a moment to permit himself to
continue this tragical and appalling
outpouring Of blood and treasure I'M
less he is sure beyond peradventure
that the objects of the vital sacrifice
are part and parcel Of the very life
of society and that the people for
whom he speaks think them right and
imperative as he does.
Definitions Called For.
There is, moreover, voice calling
for these definitions Of principle and
of purpose which is, it seems to me,
more thrilling and more compelling
than any Of the many moving voices
with which the troubled air of the
world Isl filled. It is the voice of the
Russian people. They are PROSTATE
and all but helpless, it would seem,
before the grim power of Germany,
which has hitherto known no relent-
ing and no pity. Their power, appar-
emily, is shattered. And yet their
soul is not subveient. They will not
yield either in principle or in action.
Their conception of what is right,
of what is humane and honorable for
them to accept has been stated with
frankness, a largeness Of view,
generosity of spirit and universal
human sympathy which must chal-
lenge the admiration of every friend
Of mankind; and they have refused to
compound their ideals or desert
others that they themselves may be
safe.
They call on us to say what it is
that we desire; in what, if anything
our purpose and our spirit differ from
theirs. And / believe that the people
of the United States would wish me to
respond, with utter simplicity and
frankness.
Wants Processes Open.
Whether their present leaders be-
lieve it or not, it is our heartfelt de-
sire that some way may be opened
whereby we may be privileged to as
sist the people Of Russia to attain
their utmost hope of liberty and or
dered peace. 1t will be our wish and
purpose that the processes of peace,
when they are begun, shall be abso-
lutely open and that they shall in
volve and permit henceforth no secret
understandings Of any kind.
The day of conquest and aggran-
dizement is gone by; SO is also the day
of secret covenants entered into in the
interest Of particular governments
and likely at some unlocked for mo-
ment to upset the peace of the world.
1t is this happy fact now clear to the
view Of every public man whose
thoughts do not still linger in an age
that is dead and gone which makes it
possible for every nation whose pur-
poses are consistent with justice and
the peace of the world to avow now
or at any other time the objects it
has in view.
We entered this war because viola
tions of right had occurred which
touched us to the quick and made the
life of our own people impossible un-
less they were corrected and the world
secured once for all against their re-
currence.
Safe World To Live In Is Demand.
What we demand in this war, there
fore, is nothing peculiar to ourselves.
1t is that the world be made fit and
safe to live in; and particularly that
it be made safe for every peace loving
nation which, like our own, wishes to
live it's own life, determine it's own in
situations, be assured of justice and
fair dealing by the other peoples OF
the world as against force and selfish
aggression. All the people of the
world are in effect partners in this in
terest and for our own part we see
very clearly that unless justice be
done to others, it will not be done to
us. The program of the worlds peace,
therefore, is our program; and that
program, the only possible program,