Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-07-05
WILSON DECLARES
PEACE PRINCIPLES
PRESIDENT PLEDGES AMERICAS
HELP UNTIL WORLD Is
MADE FREE.

From the shadow of Washington's
tomb at Mt. Vernon, on the Fourth
of July, President Wilson offered
Americas declaration of independ-
ence to the peoples of the world With
a pledge that the United States and
it's allies will not sheath the sword
in the war against the central powers
until there is settled "once for alp
for the world what was settled for
America in 1916.
Washington and his associates
like the barons at Runnymede. spoke
and acted, not for class, but for
people," the president said. 1T has
been left for us to see tina. it shall
te understood that they spoke and
acted. not for a single people only,
but Cor all mankind.
There can be but one issue. The
settlement must be final. There can
be no compromise.
What we seek is the reign of law,
erned and sustained by the o-ga nized
opinion of mankind"
The presidents crisp words as he
emphasized the least which America
will consider as basis fo- peace
were interrupted by tumult OF ar-
Pause and words of approval.
Celebrating the purposes for which
the associated peoples of the world"
are fighting, the president declared
the following four principles formed
the basis of the peace for which the
United States now fights:
II. The destruction OF every ar
bitrary power anywhere that can
separately, secretly and Of Its single
choice disturb the peace Of tbs
world: or, II 1t cannot be presently
destroyed, at the least Its reduction
to virtual impotence.
"2. The settlement Of every 4aeq-
tion. whether OF territory, ot J6veT<
eighty. of economic arrangement or
of political relationship, upon tho
basis Of the free acccptance Of that
settlement by the people immediato-
ly concerned. and not upon the basio
of the material interest or advan-
tages Of any other nation or people
which may desire different settle-
ment for the sake of it's own exterior
influence or mastery.
"3. The consent of all nations to
be governed In their conduct toward
each other by the same principles Of
honor and of respect for the common
law of civilized society that govern
the individual citizens Of all modern
states in their relations with one an-
other; to the end that all promises
and covenants may be sacred1y OBJ
served. no private plots or corspira-
cies hatched, no selfish injuries
wrought with impunity and a mutual
trust established upon the handsome
foundation of mutual respect for
right.
-. The establishment of an or
ganization of peace which shall make
it certain that the combined power
of free nations will check every inva-
sion of right and serve to make peac0
and justice the more secure by at
fording a definite tribunal OF opinion
to which all must submit and By
which every international readiust-
ment that cannot be amicably agreed
upon by the peoples directly con-
cerned shall be sanctioned"
He closed his short address by de-
claring that 1.-The blinded rulers OF
Prussia have reused forces they
knew little of-forces which, once
reused, can never be crushed to earth
again; for they have at their heart
an inspiration and purpose which
are deathless and of the very stun
of triumph"