The Elbert County tribune., 1918-01-11
Text of Presidents Address.
Ie President spoke as follows: /:

The President spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
once more, as repeatedly before,
have indicated their desire to discuss
the objects of the war and the possible
basis of general peace. ParIeys have
been in progress at Brest-Litovsk be-
tween Russian representatives and
representatives of the central powers
to which the attention OF all the bel
ligerents has been invited for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether 1t may
be possible to extend these parleys into
a general conference with regard to
terms OF peace and settlement
The Russian representatives pre-
scented not only a perfectly definite
they would be willing to conclude
peace, but also an equally definite pro-
gram of the concrete application OF
those principles.
The representatives of the central
powers, on their part, presented an
outline of settlement which. If much
less definite, seemed susceptible of
liberal Interpretation until their spe-
ciilc program of practical terms was
added. That program proposed no con-
Russia or the preferences of the popu-
lation with those whose fortunes 1t
dealt but meant in q word that the
foot of territory their armed forces
had occupied-every province, every
city, every point of vantage-as "a per-
manent addition to their territories
and their power
1T is a reasonable conjecture that
the general principles OF settlement
which they at first suggested, origi-
mated with the more liberal statesmen
OF Germany and Austria, the men who
have begun to feel the force of their
own peoples thought and purpose.
while the concrete terms of actual set
tlement came from the military leaders
who have no thought but to keep
what they have got The negotiations
have been broken off. The Russian
representatives were sincere and in
earnest. They cannot entertain such
proposals of conquest and dominion.
The whole incident is fun of sig
niflcance. II Is also full of perplexity.
With whom are the Russian represen-
tatives dealing? For whom are the
representatives of the central empires
speaking? Are they speaking for the
ments or for the minority parties, that
military. and imperialistic minority
whole policy and controlled the affairs
of Turkey and of the Balkan states
which have felt obliged to become
their associates in this war?
The Russian representatives have
insisted. very Justly. very wisely and
In the true spirit of democracy that
the conferences they have been hold
ing with the Teutonic and Turkish
statesmen should be held within open.
not closed doors. and all the world has
been audience as was desired. To
To those who speak the spirit and in
tention of the resolutions of the Ger
the spirit and intention of the liberal
leaders and parties of Germany, or to
those who resist and defy that spirit
and intention and insist upon conquest
and sub1ugation? or are we listening
in fact to both unreconciled and in
open and hopeless contradiction?
These are very serious and preg-
nant questions, Upon the answer to
them depends the peace of the world.
But whatever the results of the
parleys at Brest-Litovsk. whatever the
confusions of counsel and of purpose
in the utterances of the spokesmen of
the central empires, they have again
attempted 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.
Lloyd George Praised for Cnndor.
There Is no good reason why that
challenge should not be responded to
with the utmost candor. We did not
wait for 1t. 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 1t clear
what sort of definitive terms of set
tlement must necessarily spring out of
them.
within the last week Lloyd George
has spoken. with admirable candor and
in admirable spirit for the people and
government OF Great Britain. There is
no confusion OF counsel among the ad-
versaries of the central powers. no
uncertainty of principle. no vagueness
of detail.
THE only secrecy of counsel, the
only lack of fearless frankness the
only failure to make definite state
ment of the objects OF the war lies
with Germany and her allies. The is
sues Of life and death hang upon these
definitions.
NO statesman who has the least
conception of his responsibility ought
TOR a moment to permit himself to
continue this tragical and appalling
outpouring of blood and treasure un-
ess he Is sure beyond a peradventure
hat the objects of the vital sacrifice
are part and parcel of the very life OF
society ana that the people for whom
ne speaks think them right and i'm
perative as he does.
There is. moreover. n voice calling
,or these definitions OF principle and
II purpose which is, 1t seems to me
more thrilling and more compelling
than any of the many moving voices
with which the troubled air of the
world is filled. 1t is the voice of the
Russian people. They are PROSTATE
and all but helpless. It would seem.
before the grim power of Germany.