The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-07

lows:
ITO men and women of the labor |
classes We have reached n turning
point in history. The government s war
aims are now brought to a head a.
Brest Litovsk. 1t has been persistently
insisted in the past that the German
government only wanted to protect the
empire Is borders and had no intention
of making annexations. No true think
ing man can longer believe this state
ment.
"Germany desires the annexation of
Russian territory. Faithful to demo
cratic principles Russia s Socialistie
government has made a proposal that
the Poles, LithuanianS and Let's should
decide through free referendum, after
troops are withdrawn, whether they
wish to become an Independent state
or part of either of the two countries.
Contrary to this, the German govern
ment demands that the Russian dele
gates at BrestIitovsk shall acknowl-
edge that these countries have already
parted from Russia and simultaneously
our government refused to withdraw
the troops from these districts immedi-
ately after peace conclusion or Russian
| rehabilitation.
This nearly caused the peace nego-
tiations to be stranded. The Russian
government replied as expected: That
a decision taken in the presence OF
| foreign troops cannot be regarded as
rejecting the true desire of the popu.
lation.'
at is true that negotiations have
been resumed, but Germany s popula-
ION, -, lr.,1
than that of Russia. If Germany should
succeed in peace of might against the
Russian people this would be fatal to
! Russia, and to the Poles, Lithuanians
Let's, but still more fatal to ourselves.
The consequence would be a postpon-
ment of general peace, new threats and
desire for revenge, increased ornaments
and intensified reaction in our coun-
try.
"This calamity must be avoided. Par
ties of the middle class are now ex-
cluded from the reichstag. This is the
only place where we could attack and
explain the danger growing out of an
nexationist agitation.
Thanks to a state of siege, our
party and other adherents of a demo-
p cratic peace have been brutally gagged
outside of the reichstag. All efforts to
end this suppression have been checked
All the government s promises to miti-
gate this state of affairs have been idle
words. Our peace meetings are sup.
pressed, and there is no means of set
ting forth our criticism and persistent
complaints. Many comrades are pro
hibited from speaking.
"A Any one making himself disliked i:
condemned to temporary Imprisonment
or placed under the rule of the military
authorities. INFLAMMATION of factorie.
IS being extended and the rights of la
borers are being steadily restricted. Elk
animation of houses, persecution by tn,
police and courts and draconian pun
ishments are the order of the day.
- The policy of might and annexation
assumes various forms. n-Germans
the Fatherland party and their adhcr
entS, are free to state their views News
papers purchased by industrial leader
] attack those members of the govern
fmcnt who do not render them unlimitet
:, support in annexation plans The
threaten that if the government doe
not conform to their desire they will
withdraw from their places. Any mean
of pressure is employed by them
r lyon Tirpitz, the Fatherland part,
4 spokesman, declared himself statistic,
4, with the conversation he had with tn
. chancellor concerning the government
~ plans on the eastern front This dis
4 closed clearly what position the gov
h eminent takes on the question of a pol
!. icy of might.
"'The Pan-Germans consider them
n selves in power. They are allowed al
!. the meetings they please and unhir
= dercd discussion of their war aim,
Their press writes as il pleases. Tn
y Fatherland party is about to open ten
!. pest petitions in favor of the annexa
!, Zionist program.
:, "lf the laboring classes now fail t
emphasize their position it will prof.
. ably be taken as approval of this agita
/, tion or il will be thought that tn
;, masses Of the German people are ne
!, yet tired of this terrible war and al
- willing to give support to continue tn
- war on a Pan-German basis. The
= want the bloody murder, devastt
. tion, sufferings, and hunger brought
: an early conclusion. This is only a
I! tainable upon a basis of democrat
y peace.
- "Until now only the adversaries
such n peace have spoken. They voci
erously rule over the government al
= the public in Germany
Women and men of the workil
classes have no time to lose. After
past horror and suffering a new al
terrible calamity is threatening O
people, the whole of mankind in ia,
Only peace without annexations al
compensations and upon the basis
the people self-determination can sa
us. The time has come to raise vol
favoring such peace 1t is now yo
,st turn
at ------------
,ly And the straight and narrow path
ed. also slippery