Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-01-16

dor ana IN aQIflifdDie spirit ltA tilS -
pie and government of Great Britain.
There is no confusion of counsel
among the adversa,fes 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 statement
of the objects OF the war, lies win
Germany and her allies.
'The issues of life and death hang
upon these definitions. No statesman
who has the least conception OF his re-
sponslbilIty ought for moment to per
nit himself to continue this tragical
and appalling outpOuring or BLOOD ana
treasure unless he is sure beyond a
peradventure that the objects OF the
vital sacrifice are part and parcel or
the very life of society and that the
people for whom he speaks think them
right and imperative as he does.
There is, moreover, a voice calling
for these definitions of principle and
purpose which is, II seems to me. more
thrilling and more compelling than any
of the many moving voices with "hlch
the troubled air of the world is hiled'
Ii Is the voice of the Russian people.
They are PROSTATE and all but helpless.
1t would seem, before the grim power
of Germany, which has hitherto known
no relenting and no pity.
Russ Power Shattered.
Their power apparently Is shat
tered, and yet their soul Is not sub
seryient. They will not yield either In
principle or In action. The conception
of what is right, of what it is humane
and honorable for them TO accept, has
been stated with a frankness. a large
ness of view, a generosity OF spirit and
a universal human sympathy which
must challenge the admiration or
every friend of mankind; and they
refused to compound their ideals or de
sert others that they themselves may
be safe.
They call to US to say what 1t Is
that we desire, in what, if IN anything,
our purpose and our spirit differ from
theirs: aud | believe that the people
of the United States would wish me TO
respond with utter simplicity and
frunkness.
Whether their present leaders be
lieve it or not, 1t is our heartfelt de-
sire and hope that some way may be
opened whereby we may be privileged
to assist the people of Russia to at
tain their utmost hope of liberty and
ordered peace.
No Secret Understandings.
at will be our wish and purpose that
the processes of peace, when they are
begun. shall be absolutely open and
that they shall involve and permit
henceforth no secret understandings Of
any kind The day Of conquest and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is gone by; So is also
the day Of secret covenants entered in
to I'm the interest of particular govern
ments and likely at some unlooked-fOr
moment to upset the peace Of the
world.
lit IS this happy fact, now clear to
the view of every public man whose
thoughts do not still Iinger in an age
that Is dead and gone, which makes ii
possible for every nation whose pur-
poses are consistent With justice aud
the peace of the world to avow now
ar at any other time the objects 1t has
In view.
we entered this war because vio-
lations OF right had occurred which
touched us to the quick and made the
life of our own people impossible I'M
less they were corrected and the world
secured once for all against their re-
currence.
what we demand in this war, there
fore is nothing peculiar TO ourselves.
at is that the world be made fit and
safe to live in and particularly that
it be made safe for every peace-lov-
ing nation which, like our own, wish
To live its own life. determine It's own
institutions, be assured of justice and
fair dealing by the other peoples of the
world as against force and selfish az
greSslon. All the peoples OF the world
are In effect partners In this interest.
and for our own part we see very clear
iy that unless justice be done to 9th
ers it will not be done to US.
The program of the worlds peace.
therefore. is our program, and that
program, the only possible program, MS
we see It. is this:
Wants Open Covenants.
/. Open covenants of peace, openly
arrived at. after which there shall be
no private international understand
ings OF any kind, br diplomacy shall
proceed always frankly and In the pub.
lie view.
.. Absolute freedom of navigation
upon the seas. outside territorial wa.
tiers, alike in peace and In war. except
rs the seas may be closed in whole OF
I'm part by international action for the
enforcement Of international cove,
nnnts.
g. The removal. so far as possible, OF
all economic barriers and the estah.
llshment of an equality Of trade con
ditions among all the nations consent
ing To the peace and assOeiuting them
selves for its maintenance,
T. Adequate guarantees given and tn
ken that national ornaments will bs
reduced 10 the lowest point consistent
with domestic safety.
. 4 free open-minded and absolute,
~ impartial adjustment of all colonial
claims. based upon IA strict Observance,
Of the principle that in determining ali
such questions of sovereignty the in