The Washington herald., 1918-09-28
TEXT OF THE PRESIDENTS
LIBERTY" SPEECH IN N. Y.
By DwIc

depreciation of it's own duty
with regard to peace:
Five Particulars Necessary.
First. the impartial Justice
meted out must involve no dis
crimination between those to
whom we wish to be Just and
those TO whom we do not wish
to be just. 1t must be n justice
that plays no favorites and
knows no standard but the
equal rights Of the several peo-
pies,
Second, no special or separate
interest of any single nation or
any group of nations cnn be
mnde the basis OF any part of
the settlement which Is not
consistent with the common in
terest of ALI
Third, there can be no leagues
or alliances or special covenants
and Understandings within the
general and common family of
the league of nations;
Fourth. and more specifically.
there cnn be no special. selfish.
economic combinations within
the league and no employment
of any force of economic boy
colt for exclusion except As the
power of economic penalty by
exclusion from the markets of
the world may be vested in the
League of nations Itself rs
means of discipline md control.
Fifth. all international agree
mepts and treaties of every
Kind must be made known In
their entirety to the rest of the
world.
Special alliances and economic
rivalries and hostilities have
been the prolific source in the
modern world of the plans and
passions that produce war. II
would be an insincere as well as
insecure peace that did not ex-
clude them in definite and bind
ing terms.
Prepared to Assume Respon.i-
biIity.
The confidence with which I
venture to speak for our people
in these matters does not spring
from our traditions merely and
the well known principles of in
ternational action which we
have always professed and fol
lowed. In the slme sentence in
which l say that the United
States will enter into no special
arrangements and understand
me say also that the United
states is prepared to assume Its
full share of responsibility for
the maintenance of the common
covenants and Understandings
upon which peace must hence
forth rest.
We still read Washington's
immortal warning against en-
tanGling alliances with full
comprehension and an answer
ing purpose. But only spe-
cial and limited alliances en-
tangle. and we recognize and
accept the duty of a new day
in which we are permitted to
hope for a general alliance
which will avoid entanglements
and clear the air of the world
for common understandings and
the maintenance of common
rights.
l have made this analysis Of
the international situation
which the war has created. not.
OF course, because ! doubted
whether the leaders of the great
nations and peoples with whom
we are associated were OF the
same mind and entertained
like purpose, but because the
air every now and again gets
darkened by mists and ground
less doubtings and mischievous
perversions of counsel and II is
necessary once and ID Is ncccs-
snry once and again to sweep
all the irresponsible talk about
peace fntrigues and weakening
morale md doubtful purpose on
the part of those In authority
utterly. and IL need be. uuccrc-
monious1y. inside and say things
In the plairest words TINT can
he found, even when II Is only
to say over again what has bccn
said before, quitc ms plainly IL
in less unvafnishcd terms.
Enthusiasm Grows IrrcsistabIc.
AS / have said. neither ! nor
any other governmental author
lty created or gave form to the
issues Of this war. lave SIM
ply responded to them with such
VISION as l could command. But
have responded gladly and
with resolution that has
grown warmer and more conf
dent as the issues have grown
clearer and clearer 1T is now
pain that they are issues which
no man can pervert unless it.
be wilfully. ] am bound to fight
Tor them. and happy to fight for
them as tilre and circumstances
ave revealed them to me as to
all the world. Our enthusiasm
.or them Srows more and more
irres'a''l:;, as they stand cut in
more and more vivid and unmis-
taxable outline.
And the forces that fight for
them draw into closer and clos
b er array, organize their millions
INTO more and more unconquer-
able might, as they become
more and more distinct 10 the
thought and purpose of the pCo-
pies engaged. 1t is the pecu-
liarity OF, this great war that
while statesmen have seemed to
cast about for definitions of
their purpose and have some
times seemed to shift their
ground and their point of view,
the thought of the mass of men.
whom statesmen are supposed
to instruct and lead. has grown
more and more unclouded. more