The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-18
(By WINSTON CHURCHILL, VIII:
Recently Returned From the Wa
Zone0

(ey WINSTON CHURCHILL, Who
Recently Returned From the War
Zone)
Germany may be 1ikened to a great
tree that has fallen across the path
of democracy. The trunk is being
chopped through by two axes, the mill
tary ak and the propagandist ak.
If the trunk is to be severed and
the obstruction removed, neither ak
must be spared. Americans must con-
tribute willingly to help their allies,
to support their army and navy, which
will be the deciding military factor in
the struggle.
Our American president was the
first world statesman to make clear
that while a military victory is es-
sential, it is not In itself adequate.
The great significance of this war
lies not on the battle lines, but behind
them. It is war for human liberty,
and that which restricts human
liberty. not only IN the German en-
pire, but also in America and England
and France and Italy and Russia
must be abolished. We are beginning
to perceive that the future progress
Ol u0p6luS Oll Ill
selfishness and international cO-Opera-
ton scientifically conceived.
Issued World Proclamation.
In q series of mastery state papers
Mr.. Wilson has announced to the world
that America enters the war unself1sh-
ly, and has defined the true issue
for all the peoples Of the earth-even
for those deluded portions of the Ger
man population which, because of
false system of education, have hith-
ertO upheld the hands of the worst
enemies of liberty, the junkers. Until
quite recently, one of the most dis
Quieting symptoms from the point OF
view Of the allies was a discomfort
with, If not an actual opposition to, the
war of large elements among the work
ing classes of the allied peoples. In
Russia, where democracy was most
cruelty suppressed, where conditions
for the peasant and the workingman
were hardest, a revolution actually
took Dlace-a revolution that has
sounded the keynote of our times. The
world service which our president is
doing is that of enlisting the allie
glance of those masses for the war.
He is convincing them that it is their
war. And these are they upon whom
the evils of an outword economic sys-
tenn have pressed hardest, and who
hitherto have seen little hope that vic
tory over the Germans meant their
own deliverance. Mr.. Wilson has IS
sued a world proclamation of enamel
patton from economic slavery.
Make Their Own Treaties.
ffI1
nations shall cease to exploit little ma
lions, but that powerful individuals
shall cease to exploit their fellow men.
He declares that hencefOrth no wars
shall be fought for domination, and
that to this end secret treaties shall
be abolished. The peoples through
their representatives shall make their
own treaties. And just as national
democracy insures to the individual
the greatest amount of self-determina-
ton, of self-realization, world democ-
racy shall insure self-determinatiOn to
the individual nations of the earth, In
order that each may be free to make
its own contribution to world democ-
racy.
Fighting for Oppressed.
This is the spirit in which America
has entered the war. We are fighting
for the oppressed everywhere. And
we are equally determined that the in
Justice and inequalities that exist in
our own government. the false stand
ards of worth, the materialism, the
luxury and waste shall be purged from
our midst. We shall seize this oppor
tunity to finish up the cleaning of our
own household. To sustain our army
and navy in the struggle for such
cause, to uphold our president. to aid
our allies who have fought so long and
so bravely, these are worthy of our
sacrifices. I am confident that the re-
Spouse of the American people to the