The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-01-18
president WILSON NAMES AMERICAS
WAR AIMS AND TERMS OF PEACE


sci among the adversaries of the cen
trail powers, no uncertainty of prin-
ciple, no vagueness of detail. The only
secrecy of council, the only lack. of
fearless frankness, the only failure to
make definite statement Of the objects
of the war, lies with Germany and her
allies. The issues of life and death
hang upon these. definitions. No states
man who has the least conception OF
his responsibility ought for a moment
to permit himself to continue this
tragical and appalling outpouring of
blood and treasure unless he Is sure
beyond peradventure that the objects
of the vital sacrifice are part and par
eel of the very life Of society and that
! the people for whom he speaks think
them right and imperative as he does.
Voice of Russian People Calling.
'There is, moreover, a voice calling
for these definitions of principle and
of purpose, which is, it seems to me,
more thrilling and more compelling
than any of the many moving voices
with which the troubled air of the
world is filed. It is the voice of the
Russian people. They are PROSTATE
and all but helpless, 1t would seem, be-
fore the grim power of Germany, which
has hitherto known no relenting and
no pity.
Their power, apparently, is shat
tered. And yet their soul is not sub
servient. They will not yield either in
principle or in action. Their concep-
ton of what is right, of what is hui
name and honorable for them to ac-
cept, has been stated with frank
ness, a 1argeness of view, a generosity
of spirit and universal human SYM
pathy which must challenge the adj
: miration of every friend of mankind
and they have refused to compound
their ideals or desert others that they
: themselves may be safe. They cal
on us to say what it is that we desire
in what, if anything, our purpose ant
5 our spirit differ from theirs.
, Hope to Assist Russia.
t "And / believe that the people O
! the United States would wish me t.
a respond with utter simplicity an,
i franllness. Whether their presen
leaders believe it or not, it is gu
heartfelt desire that some way may b
: opened whereby we may be privileges
y to assist the people of Russia to attail
e their utmost hope of liberty and peace
S 1t will be our wish and purpose tina
e the processes of peace, when they ar
It begun, shall be absolutely open an
= that they shall involve and permi
Y henceforth no secret understandings G
It any kind The day of conquest an
II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is gone by; so is ais
the day of secret covenants entere
it into IN the interest of particular GOV
1t ernments and likely at some unlooke
l. for moment to upset the peace of tn
II world. 1t is this happy fact now clea
70 to the view of every public man who's
Ir thoughts do not still linger in an az
e, that is dead and gone which makes
t. possible for every nation whose pu
IS poses are consistent with justice an
it the peace of the world to avow no
re or at any other time the objects
e. has in view.
it. Why We Entered War.
Is "We entered this war because VII
lations of right had occurred whic
fl touched us to the quick and made Il
Y. life of our own people impossible III
e. less they were corrected and the wor
he secured once for all against their +
es currence: What we demand in tn
he war, therefore, is nothing peculiar
n 10 hot
at made fit and safe to live in; and pa
ty ticularly that it be made safe for eve
,ir peace-loving nation wlslch, like Of
RS own, wishes to live its own life, d
es termine it's own institutions, be q
,ir sured of justice and fair dealing by Il
other peoples of the world as again
;e. force and selfish aggression. All Il
We peoples of the world are in effect PAL
nd ners in this interest, and for our ov
y. part we see very clearly that unle
en- justice be done to others, it will II
sh be done to us.
IN, World Peace Program.
as 1.-THE program of the worlds peat
therefore, is our program; and tn
lg, program, the only possible program,
rlt we see it, is this:
he 1. Open covenants of peace, oper
lily arrived at, after which there shall
he no private international understaI
ny, ings of any kind, but diplomacy sh
lat proceed always frankly and in the pl
on lie view.
we .. Absolute freedom of nayigati
led upon the seas, outside territor
lie waters, alike in peace and in war, I
eg- cept as the seas may be closed in VIII,
to or in part by international action
Id. the enforcement of international co
ar nants.
the 3. The removal, so far as possit
in of all economic barriers and the est
the ishment of an equality Of trade c,
at. ditions among all the nations conse
18th ing to the peace and ASSOCIATE
ain themselves for its maintenance.
saw 4. Adequate guarantees given q
IL / +ol-an that national ornaments Y