The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-07-12
WAR TILL kA|SER|SM
ENDS, SAYS WILSON
CAN BE NO THOUGHT or PEACE
UNTIL DESTRUCTION or
MILITARY AuTocRAcY.
President ForcibIy Answers al FeeIers
For Compromise at Gathering at
the Tomb Of Washington on
Independence Day.


July 4 answered ali feeIers for q
compromise peace, with new and
unqualified conservation Of America ID
the struggle for cleaning military au-
tocraey from the earth
Al an Independence Day gathering
on the gentle slopes Of Mount Vernon,
home and tomb Of George Washington,
and surrounded by scenes which looked
upon the crention Of this nation, the
president addressed a small gathering
81 officials and OF diplomats OF the AL
He'd nations.
But he spoke 10 the world and he
spoke the logical sequel to his force
without stint or limit" declaration OF
several weeks ago.
Reign Of Law.
Unreseryedly, the president declared
that there could be no thought OF a
pence which did not mean the destruc-
lion Of military antocracy, or It's reduc-
tlon TO virtual impotence.
"A reign Of law. based on the con-
sent OF the governed and sustained
by the organized opinion Of mankind"
was the way he summarized In sin-
gle sentence the objects Of humanity
In the world war.
Whether the president was address.
Ing his remarks directly 60 the recent
speech Of German Foreign Secretary
won kuehlmann or to the foreshadows
OF q renewed German peace offensive,
or whether he merely took the ocea.
sion OF the celebration Of American In
depedence TO emphasize to the world
the war aims OF the nation can only be
OWNED.
Tex OF Speech.
The presidents speech In full was
as follows
Gentlemen OF the diplomatic corps
and my fellow citizens
II am happy to draw apart with
you to this quiet place OF old counsel
In order to speak little Of the mean
Ing of this day of our nations indie
pendence. This place seems very still
aud remote. II Is as serene and un-
touched by the hurry OF the world as
II was In those great days long agone
when General Washington was here
and held leisurely conference with the
men who were TO be associated with
him In the creation of nation. From
these gentle slopes they looked out up
on the world and saw 1t whole, saw Il
with the light of a future upon 1t, saw
IL with modern eyes that turned away
from past which men OF liberated
spirits could no longer endure.
Meant for Mankind.
1T Is for that reason that we can
not feel, even here, In the immediate
presence OF this sacred tomb, that this
h place of death. Ii was place of
achievement A great promise that
was meant for all mankind was here
given plan and reality, The aSsocia.
lions by which we are here surrounded
are the inspiring associations OF that
| noble death which Is only glorious
consummatlon. From this green hill
| side we also ought to be able 10 see
with comprehending eyes the worlt
| that lies about us and should conceive
anew the purposes that must set mel
/ free.
1T Is significant significant Of thei
own character and purpose and Of tn,
influence they We're setting afoot-
that Washington and his associates
like the barons OF Runnymede, spok
aud acted. not for class, but for
people. II hns been left for us to Sc
20 Ii that Ii shall be understood tim
they spoke and acted, not for singl
people only, but for all mankind
They were thinking, not OF themselve
and of the material interests whic
conferred In the little groups OF lame
holders and merchants and men Of al
fairs with whom they We're accu'
toned 10 act, In Virginia, and IN
colonies 20 the north aud south of he
but OF people which wished to b
done with classes aud special int
ests and the authority of men whol
they had n@ themselves chosen TO rul
over them They entertained no pr
yate purpose, desired NO peculiar pri'
ilege. They were consciously plnnniu
that men Of every class should be fire.
and America place TO which men OF
OF every nation might resort WI
wished 20 share with them the righ
and privileges Of free men. And "
take our cue from them--do we moi
We intend what they intended.
Our Purpose In War.
I'VE here In America believe OF
participation In this present war to
! only the frultage of what they plante
cur case differs from theirs only
this, that It is our inestimahle privlleg
10 concert with men out Of every "
tlon what shan make not only Il
liberties of America secure. but Il
liberties 0f every other people as we
! We are happy Ia the thought that "
are permitted 20 do what they Won
I have d0ue had they been la our plaC
, There must now be- settled once (,
all what was settled for America