The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-09

MS hearers knew. y
Celcm~l Heuse ~ TRere,
There WAS one exception. to be sure
u small. auiet-tooktnk man sat In the
gallery reserved for members of the
preAtdents family. II was Colonel p
H. House, recently American commits
sienef a. the interaliied war confer.
snes at Paris and Lonton. with whose
advice the president acted In the
row In 'front.' Of him sat Mira. Wilson
View and again az the applause broke
forth from floor and galleries. the quiet
little man with face slightly flushed
with excitement. would lean forward
ana speak word to Mrs. wilson.
And the applause was generous and
ut times tenn pestuous. As the full ef-
feet of what the presidents saying
aawned upon the representatives. and
senators the applause grew in volume.
THE climax was reached when the prea-
saent declared that Germany must right
the wrong she dld TO France ATTY years
ago ''in the matter Of Alssce- Lorraine,
senators and representatives, old and
ycunK. Republican and Democratic.
arose M with common impulse TO
their feet and SIS the galleries followed
Huft roar after roar of approval crashed
UP 70 che dome or the capital
Message Flashed to World.
Less than 500 miles away. in the
cabf~ hrTce In New York city as the
TO esew corner OF the world the mo-
snsntous speech. all cables having been
cleared for the exclusive purpose OF
getting the presidents message abroad
.r the shortest possible time. Within
several minutes after Mr. Wilson
mounted the rostrum In the house o.
Representa- tives AZ Washington, trans
safars i'm the American legation ri The
Hague and other neutral capitals or
Europe were trRnscrihins the message
in shape for newspapers certain TO get
into Germany. No pains or expense
had been Jared to make certain PEG"
pie In the enemy COUNTRIES read the
appeal. . -, .-.....u. .,
saving a. wasb acton. who has the
1east r-Ncec t'ou Of hts responsibility
.susft f1r r1oment TO permit himself
II continue this traFical and appalling
natpoartug 81 blood ard treasure, on
less re Is sure beyond a peradventure
OF doubt that the objects Of the vital
sacrifice are part ard parcel Of The
VERY Nts - society ard the people for
wvheY-, ~ speaks think them right snd'
Imperative es he does"
The president spoke not alone fo'
America hut for the allies with COT
anei House advising him, II IS hssumeA
that he rpoke by some kind Of agree
r1ent reached at the irterailied war
conferences that there should no long
er he q heeItaney about announcing
war aims.
sNothing has ever been said that
soYidihes 90 completely the aims of
the nations nj war with Germany wHs
the wav one weiEhed its effect
Paciasts in congress to'ned In the
verdict of approval, for the Arst tin1s
since they split a wear ago over thu
prorosal ~ arrtiHg American merchant
ynen--bsfore the United states entered
the war.
senator stone. ot Missouri. walked
arrn-in-arm with the president, leading
TO the chamber.
Senator IA Folietts was conspicuous
by his absence.
The president said
Gentlemen of the Congress. Once
more. as repeatedly before, the spoiiF-
men OF the central empires have in
Dictated their desire to discuss the OBJ
tecs# OF the war and the peoples
basis Of a general peace, Parieys have
been in progress al Brest lAtoVsk be-
tween representatives OF the central
powers, 10 which the attention of all
The beiligerents have been invited, for
the PURPOSE OF ascertaihins whether
or not Il may be possible TO extend
the parleys into a general conference
with regards 70 terms Of peace ana
settlement The Russian Representa-
tiye~ presented not only a perfectly
definite statement Of the principles
upon which they would he willing to
conclude peace but also an equally
definite program Of the concrete ap-
rlication Of those principles. The
representatives of the central powers,
ON their part, presented an outline OF
settlement which II much less def
nife. seemed susceptible OF liberal In
depreciation until their speeihc pro-
gram of practical terms was added.
That program proposed no conCeH-
eions AT all either to the sovereignty
of Russia or to the reference Of he
populations with whose fortunes 1t
dealt, but meant, in q word that the
central empires were 70 keep every
foot OF territory their armed forces
lad occupiei---everv point Of vantage
AS a perrns nent addition o their ter-
aitorles and their power
Fixing Responsibility.
it 10 reasonab BILE conjecture that
the general principles Ct settlement
which they at first suggested origl-
mated with the more liberal states
suen OF Germany and Austria, while
the concrete terms Of actual settle
rnent came from the military leaders
who have no thought hut to keep what
tney have IRE negotiations have
been broken OF. The Russian repre-
%aaAkAk-srM were sincere anu IN N&FJsEt
They cannot entertain such proposals.
Of conquest and domination. The
whole incident la full of significance.
IT is also full of perplexity. With
whom are the Russian representatives
dealing for whom are the representa-
tiYes % the central empires speaking >
Are they speaking for the matorities
of their respective parliaments or for
the minority parties. that military and
tmpertaitss;c minority party which has
SO far designated their whole policy
and controlled the affairs OF Turkey
and the Balkan states which have felt
obliged TO become their associates In
this war? The Russian representa-
ttvss have insisted justly wisely and
In the true spirit of modern democ-
raEv. that the conferences they have
been holding with the Teutonic and
Turkish statesmen. should be held
with open. not closed doors. and the
whois world as an audience was de-
sired.
To whom have we been listening,
thsn7 To those who speak the spirit
and intention of the Russians: of the
German reichstaR OF the 9Th or July
last. the spirit and intention Of the
liberal Germans aad parties Of Ger
many, or TO those who resist and defy
that spirit and intention and insist