The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-08


dictive purpose We must judge As
we would be judged I have sought
to learn the object GermSny has IN
this war from the mouths OF her own
Spokesman, and to deal as frankly
| with them as I wished them to deal
with me. I have laid bare our own
/ ideals, our own purposes. without re-
serve or doubtful phrase, and have
asked them to say as plainly what 1t
| is that they seek.
To Judge Germany Rightly.
I'VE have ourselves proposed no in
justice. no aggression We are ready
| whenever the final reckoning is made
| to be just to the German people, deal
| fairly with German power as with all
others. There can be- no difference
between peoples in the final Judgment.
| if il is indeed to be a righteous 1udG-
ment. To propose anything but JUS
| tice even-handed and dispassionate
| justice, to Germany at any time, what
ever the outcome of the war, would De
! to renounce and dishonor our own
cause. For we ask nothing that we
are not willing to accord.
'It has been with this thought that
! 1 have sought to learn. from those who
\ spoke for Germany, whether it was
| of their own will upon the other ma
lions of the world. that the German
| leaders were seeking They have an
swered in unmistakable terms. They
/ nave aNOWeQ LndC IL was not justice
| but dominion and the unhindered eX-
ecution of their own will. The avowal
| has not come from Germany'S states
men. 1t has come from her military
leaders. who are her real rulers. Her
| statesmen have said that they wished
peace, and were ready to discuss its
/ terms whenever their opponents were
| willing to sit down at the conference
table with them. Her present chan
/ cellor has said-in indefinite and un-
| a in or in6 nd in alar-a cos.
that often seem to deny their own
meaning, but with as much plainness
as he thought prudent-that he be-
lieVed that peace should be based upon
| the principles which we had declared
! would be our own in the final settle
ment.
! Military Masters Rule.
| AT Brest-Litovsk her civilian dele
| gates spoke in similar terms, pro-
! fesced their desire to conclude a fair
peace ind accord to the people, with
| who's fortunes they were dealing, the
right to choose their own allegiances.
But action accompanied and followed
the profession. Their military mas
tiers The men who act for Germany
and exhibit her purpose in execution,
proclaimed a very different conclu-
sion. We cannot mistake what they
have done--fn Russia, in Finland, in
I the Ukraine, in Rumania.
THE real test of their justice and
may judge the rest. They are enjoy
ing in Russia a cheap triumph in
which no brave or gallant nation can
long take pride.
IF, when they have felt their check
to be final, they should propose ia
vorabie and equitable terms with re-
gard 20 Belgium and France, and
Italy, could they blame us If we con-
Guided that they did so only to assure
themselves of a free hand in Russia
and the east?
Aim to Enslave World.
Their purpose is undoubtedly TO
make all the Slavic people, all the
Tree and ambitious nations of the
! Baltic peninsula, all the lands that
Turkey has dominated and misruled,
( subject to their will and ambition and
build upon that dominion an empire
of force upon which they fancy that
they can then erect an empire of gain
and commercial supremacy--an en-
pire as hostile to the Americas as to
! Europe which it will overawe, an EN-
pirc which will ultimately master
| Persia, India and the peoples of the
far east. In such a program our
ideals the ideals of justice and hu-
mainly and liberty. the principle of
upon which all the modern world in
sists. can play no part. They are re-
jected for the ideals of power for the
\ principle that the strong must rule
the weak; that trade must follow the
flag. whether those to whom it is
taken welcome it or not;- that the
people of the world are to be made
subject to the patronage and over
1ording of those who have the power
to enforce it.
American Ideals at stake.
THAT program once carried out
America and all who care or dare tc
stand with her must arm and prepare
themselves to contest the mastery OF
tho world, mastery in which the
rights of common men, the rights Of
women and of all who are weak. mus
for the time being be trodden under
foot and disresarded. and the old. age
long struggle for freedom and righ
begin again at its beginning. Every.
thing that America has lived for ant
loved and grown great to vindicatt
and bring to a glorious realization
J will have fallen in utter ruin and the
gates of mercy once more pitilessl,
shut upon mankind.
Germauy's Ideal Is Force.
1.-The thing is preposterous and i'm
possible; and yet is not that what the
whole course and action of the Ger
; | man armies has meant wherever theI
have moved? I do not wish, even il
this moment of utter establishments
to judge harshly or unrighteousIy.
judge only what the Germans arm
have accomplished with Implying
thoroness turnout every fair region
, they have touched.
: What, then. we to 10? F'o
myself, 1 am ready, ready still, read.
even now. to discuss a fair and jus
, and honest Ieace at any time that 1t il
sincerely proposed peace in which
, the strong and the weak shall far
alike. But the answer. when 1 pro
posed such a peace, came from tn
German commanders in Russia, and
cannot mistake the meaning of tina