Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-19
run Germans are squealing. Like

gave way before him, but now when the
tables are turned and he is being beaten
and cuffed and he seets inevitable defeat
before him, he is beginning to whine
and squeal in fright and pain.
The Kaiser and his chief statesmen
have been throwing out peace feelers
the past week or more, but finding that
these have been absolutely ignored by
the Allies, they have found it expedient
to come out more plainly still. On Mon
day a formal note was received by our
government from Austria, through
the Swedish minister, suggesting the
terms on which Germany and Austro-
Hungary would be willing to discuss
matters looking toward ultimate peace.
Within a half hour after this note had
been received it was answered by the
United States, speaking for all the
Allies-and the answer gives no COM
fort to our desperate foes. Secretary
of State Lansing made this formal state
ment:
az am authorized by the President to
state that the following will be the reply
OF this government to the Austro-
Hungarian note proposing an unofficial
conference: The government OF the
United States feels that there is only
one reply which it can make to the sug-
ngestion OF the Imperial Austro-Hun-
garian government. 1t has repeatedly
and with entire candor stated the terms
upon which the United States would
consider peace, and can and will enter
tain, no proposal for conference upon a
matter concerning which it has made its
position and purpose so plain"
The Austrians, at the bidding Of Ger
many, proposed secret conference
President Wilson says there will be no
star chamber proceedings-the discus
sion shall be open to all the world, be-
cause all the world is interested. Ger
many and Austria would dicker about
the terms. President Wilson plainly
says that there will be no argument
the only basis upon which there can be
settlement is the principles heretofore
laid down by the United States and the
Allies. These principles will admit OF
no discussion, and they will be forced
upon Germany sooner or later. II she
accepts them now, well and good. II
she does not-and she probably will moi
the war will go on until the Allies
shall be in position to simply enforce
| their own terms.
German defeat is now believed the
world over to be inevitable. The Huns
themselves realize it-and this Is the
onlv season for their present peace
move. They think that they can ger
much better terms now than they can
when they have been beaten to tneir
knees, and so they would keep by trick
ery and deception what they cannot
retain by armed force. Their colossal
inpudence and arrogance is bolsterlne
them up, but it is not fooling President
Wilson and our Allies. There will be
no negotiated peace. 1t will be dictated
peace-and the Allies will do the dictat-
ing.
The people of America, France, Eng
land, Belgium and Italy are agreed tha'
Germany must pay the price OF her
cruelty and wickedness and vandalism.
II is unthinkable that she should be al
lowed to escape the penalties OF her
crimes. The military spirit that has
brought this great calamity upon the
| world must be crushed. The Hohenzol-
lerns must be deposed. She must repay
to Belgium the last farthing that has
been stolen from that unhappy country,
| and she must be taxed for its complete
ICSlOl dtiOu. SiIC lIuSt lOSlOiS W IL oiiSS
the stolen provinces OF Alsace and Lo-
raine, and she must not be allowed to
profit by her treachery to Russia. She
must answer to civilization for her un-
speakable crimes against humanity in
the sinking of the Lusitania and other
defencelesS passenger vessels; in the
deliberate bombing OF hospitals and
Red Cross stations and the destruction
OF hospital ships; in the attacks of I'M
defended peaceful towns by aeroplanes
at night, in the unnecessary destruction
OF cathedrals and churches and a thou
sand forms Of vandalism and frightful-
ness.
The world will not be satisfied unless
Germany pays the price, unless civiliza-
ton is avenged, unless the Germans are
put where they can do no more mischief
for hupJraI ,,aoro - ooS.>