Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-08

cannot overcome? If wen they have
felt their check to be final they should
propose favorable and euuita ble
terms with regard to Belgium and
France and Italy. could they blanc
us if we concluded thar tney did 80
only to assure themselves OF u free
hand in Russia and the Easto
| Their purpose is. undoubtedly. to
make all the Slavic people, all the
flee and ambitious Nations Of the
I Baltic peninsula. all the lands tina.
/ Turkey has dominated and misrul-
! ed. subject to their will and ambi-
! ton, and build upon that Edomin')n
an empire Of force upon which they
fancy that they can then erect m
! empire Of gain and commercial su-
premacy. an empire as hostile 10 the
Americans as to the Europeans, an
empire which will ultimately master
Persia. India and the peoples Of ,he
Far East.
In such program our ideals. the
ideals Of justice and humanity and
liberty. the principle of the free self
determination of Nations, upon.
which all the modern world insists.
ca2 play n part
They are rejected for the ideals cf
power, for the principle that the
strong must rule the weak. that trade
must follow the flag. whether those
to whom il is taken welcome it or not.
that the peoples Of the world are 20
be made subject to the patronage and
overlordship of those who have the
power to enforce y.
Program Menaces World
THAT program once carried out,
America and all who care to stand
with her must arm and prepare
themselves TO contest the mastery or
the world, Il mastery in which the
rights of "ommol men. The right q
women and of all who are weak must
for the time being be trodden under
foot ami Gisresa','ed and the ola age
long struggle for freedom and right
begin again at its beginning.
Everything that America has w
Cd for AMI loved and grown greet to
vindicate and bring to glorious
realization will have fallen in utter
ruin and the gates Of mercy one
more pirilessly shut upon mankind.
The thing is prcposterous and i'm
possible: and Vet is not that what The
whole course and action of the Ge'-
man armies mas meant wherever they
have moved? ] do not wish. even III
this moment of utter establishments
to judge harshly or unrighteously.
judge only what the German arms
Rave accomplished with Implying
thOrouehl"ss throughout every fan:
region they have touched.
What. then. are we to do? For
myself, | am ready. ready still, ready
even now to discuss fair and just
and honest peace ut any time that
il is sincerely proposed. a peace in
which the strong and the weak shall
fare alike But the answer when |
proposed such a peace, came from
the German comman derS in Russia
and ! cannot mistake the meaning
of the answer
Ready for Finish Fight
II accept the challenge. | know that
you accept it. All the world shall
know that you accept it. / shall APP
pear in the utter sacrifice and self
forgetfulness with which we shall
give all that we love and all that we
have to redeem the world and make
i, fit for free men like ourselves to
live i'll.
This now is the meaning of all
that We do. Let everything that we
say, my fellow countrymen, every
thing that we hCnccforth plan and
accomplish. ring true to this response
till the majesty and might of our con-
certed power shall fill the thought
and utterly defeat the force of those
who flout and misprize what we hon
or and hold dear Germany has once
lnOre said that force. and force alone,
shall decide whether justice and
peace shall reign in the affairs of
men. whether right as America con-
ceives it. or dominion as she con-
ceives it. shall determine the desti-
mes of mankind There IS, therefore,
hut one response possible from us:
Force, force to the utmost, force
without stint o. limit, the righteous
end triumphant force which snail
make right the law of the world and
cast every selfish dominion down in
tho dust"