New-York tribune., 1918-09-16
Kaneradi


The force we have pleGged-all that Is
in us--to destroy the intolerable German
thing has touched the enemy's frontier
American shells have begun to fall upon
that myth of invulnerability which is
Metz. Gott is failing the Huns. And
now Austria says:
Come, let us all sit down together in
neutral place and have peace discussions"
Hitherto all proposals TO parley have
been escorted by stipulations. Certain
things would have to be taken for granted
beforehand What Austria now suggests
is that the possibilities of peace be dis
cussed without any preposterous prior
conditions. Lest any among us should be
so naive or faint minded as to regard this
as a sign of hopeful progression, and be
fore we decide what to answer, or whether
to answer at all, let US ask ourselves a
question. 1t is this:
Do we believe what we say about this
German 'hing-that it is frightful be-
yond redemption, that it has no faith to
pledge, that it has betrayed the very
principles of civilization, that it cannot
lie lived with, and that it must be utterly
destroyed?
If all of this be true, and we believe it.
then not OILY is it impossible to make
peace with Germany, but we cannot even
discuss with her the terms on which she
shall be permitted to continue her exist
cnce on earth.
SC I,o&C + -
doned the ambition to conquer the world
Shall the world be grateful on that ac-
count? Shall it parley with the thing it
resolved to destroy for reasons which. if
they are valid at all, require free people
rather to perish than to compromise? To
do SO would stultify democracy beyond
the imagination of its posterity.
In peace discussions, binding or non
binding, at neutral place, shall Ger
many lay upon the table:
Item: Belgium.
Item. The richest portions of the min
eral wealth of France,
ITEM: The chains of Rumania
Item: The wounds Of Serbia
Item: Her word of honor,
and say, rattling the sword among them.
There, to begin with, we barter these
for peace, provided you have something
equal to offer?
Who will put back upon the sea
the proud Lusitania and her company
of laughing, trusting people who said:
The Germans are not as bad as thew
pretend to be-?
Who will restore all the inviolate
things by frightfulness destroyed?
Who will atone for the denominations
of German warfare?
Or shall a pardon in full be signed
by civilization and laid on the table
against those items of booty which Ger
many can offer in exchange for peace?
Shall we win the war and lose the
peace at last?
Germany has lost the war. The peace
offensive is now her most DANGEROUS
weapon. Let it break itself upon the
text; He that leadeth into captivity
shall go into captivity; he that killeth
with the sword must be killed with the
sword"
The simple alternative for Germany is
always open. 1t is expressed in one
word. The word is surrender.
That way is open to Austria alone.
# she will save herself. Her anxiety for
the fate of Europe is ludicrous. Did she
not ally herself with Germany to con-
quer Europe?
The answer to Austria is ready. 1t
viii be taken from Mr.. Wilson's Balti-
more speech: Force, force to the ut
most; force without stint or limit"
until the enemy is willing to lay down
his arms and surrender unconditionallv.