The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-01-09

spring out OF them. Within the last
week Mr.. Lloyd George has spoken
with admirable candor and in admir-
able spirit for the people and govern
ment of Great Britain. There is no
confusion Of counsel among the adver-
saries OF the Central Powers, no un-
certainty of principals, no vagueness
Of detail. The only secrecy of counsel,
the only lack Of fearless frankness, the
only failure to make definite statement
Of the object of the war, lies with Ger.
many and her allies. The issues of
life and death hang upon these defini-
tons. No statesman who has the least
conception of his responsibility ought
for q moment to permit himself to
continue this tragical and appalling
~outpouring OF blood and treasure un-
less he Is sure beyond a p~eradyenture
that the objects OF the vital sacrifice
are part and parcel OF the very life
Of society and that the people for
whom he speaks think them right and
imperative as he does.
Definitions Called For.
There is, moreover, q voice calling
Tor these definitions of principle and
Of purpose which Is, 1t seems I me,
more thrilling and more compelling
than any of the many moving voices
with which the troubled air of the
world Is filed. 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 relent-
ing and no pity. Their power, appar-
emily. Is shattered. And yet their
soul Is not subveient. They will not
yield either In principle Or in action.
Their conception of what Is right,
! Of what Is humane and honorable for
them to accept has been stated with
frankness, a largeness of view, a
generosity of spirit and a universal
human sympathy which must chal-
lenge the admiration OF every friend
OF mankind; and they have refused to
compound their ideals or desert
others that they themselves may be
safe.
They call ON US to say what II Is
that we desire; in what, IL anything.
"a purpose and our spirit differ from
theirs. And I believe that the people
of the United States would wish me to
respond. with utter simplicity and
frankness.
Wants Processes Open.
Whether their present leaders be
lieve IL or not, II is our heartfelt de-
sire that some way may be opened
whereby we may be privileged to as
sist the people of Russia to attain
their utmost hope of liberty and or.
dered peace. It viii be u wish and
purpose that the processes of peace.
when they are begun. shall be ALSO
lutely open and that they shall In
volve and permit henceforth no secret
understandings OF any kind.
The day Of conquest and aggran-
dizement is gone by; so Ii also the day
Of secret covenants entered into In the
interest Of particular governments
and likely at some unlocked for mo-
ment to upset the peace OF the world.
1t is this happy fact now clear to the
view OF every public man whose
thoughts do not still linger In an age
that Is dead and gone which makes IL
possible for every nation whose pur.
poses are consistent with justice and
the peace of the world to ROY now
or at n other time the objects 1t
has In view.
We entered this war because viola
tons Of right had occurred which
touched us to the quick and made the
life Of our own people impossible UNI
less they were corrected and the world
secured once for all against their 70
~currence.
Safe World To Live In 10 Demand.
What we demand In this war, there
lore. IL nothing peculiar to ourselves.
It is that the world be made 1T and
safe TO live In; and particularly that
1t be made safe for every peace loving
nation which, like III own, wishes to
live its own life, determine its own In
sututions. be assured Of justice and
fair dealing by the other peoples OF
the world ~ against force and selfish
aggression. All the people Of the
world are In effect partners In this In
terest and for our OWE part We see
very clearly that unless justice be
done to others, It will not be done to
US. The program of the worlds peace.
therefore, is our program; and that
program, the only possible program,
ls we see 1t, Is this:
Ifrst-Open covenants Of peace.
openly arrived at, after which
there shall be no private interna-
tional understandings Of any kind
but diplomacy shall proceed al
ways frankly and in the public
view.
Second-Absolute freedom Of
navigation upon the seas, outside
territorial waters, alike In peace
and In war. except as the seas may
be closed in whole or In part BY
international action for the en-
forcement Of international
nants.