Atlanta semi-weekly journal., 1918-02-05
AJjes Must BeUt Germany
To Knees to W3m Just Peace
Taft Tells Gordon Soldiers

was sure TO bring on war, and then
posed as one driven into war hy the
mobilization of Russia.
"She knew that Russia was utterly un-
prepared. she knew that France was
unprepared. she knew that Great Brit
ain was unprepared. She herself was
ready to the last cannon and the last re-
sorviSt. Therefore, when appealed TO
by Great Britain and by all the other
powers to intervene and prevent Aus
tria from forcing a universal war, Ger
many declined to act
when the war began, Germany was
able to convince her people and to con-
vince many in the world that the issue
in the war was mere controversy be
tween the Teuton and the Slav, and
Germany asked with great plausibility'
"WiI you have the world controlled by
the Sav or by the German" As the
war wore on, the real issue was cleared
Of 1his confusion. Russia became a de-
mocracy. The fight was between gov
'ernments directed by their people on
the one hand, and the military dynasties
of Germany, Austria and Turkey on the
other.
president Wilson says the allies are
fighting to make the world safe for
democracy. Some misconception has
been created on this head. The allies
are not struggling to force particular
form of government on Germany. III
the German people continue to wish an
emperor it is not the purpose of the
allies to require them to have a re-
public. Their purpose is to end the
military policy and foreign policy of
Germany that looks to the maintenance
of military and naval machine, with
its hair-trigger preparation for use
against her neighbors.
Must Defeat Huns
How is the change to be effected? BY
defeating Germany in this war. A de-
feat of the military machine must open
the eyes of the German people to the
hideous futility of their political course.
The German government will then be
changed as its people will have 1t
changed to avoid a recurrence of such
a tragedy as they have deliberately pre-
pared for themselves.
Men who see clearly the kind of peace
which we must have, in order to be
real and lasting peace. can have no
sympathy therefore with a patched-up
peace, one made at a council table, the
result of diplomatic chaffering and bar
gaining. This war is now being fought
by the allies as a league to enforce
peace. Unless they compel it by victory,
they do not enforce il.
"And now what of the United States?
"As conscientiously as possible, the
administration and the country pursued
the course laid down by international
law as that which a neutral should
take. international law is the rule of
conduct of nations toward one another,
accepted and asquiesced in by all ma
tions In the law Of war as to capture
at sea of commercial vessels, the prin-
ciples have been established clearly by
the decision of prize courts of all ma
tionS, English, American, PruSSian and
French. The right of noncombatants on
commercial vessels. officers, crew and
passengers, either enemy or neutral, to
be secure from danger of life, has al
ways been recognized and never con-
tested Nevertheless, Germany sank,
without warning, $50 American citizens,
men, women and children. and sent
them to their death by a submarine
torpedo, simply because they happened
to be on English or American COM
mercial vessels. We protested and Ger
many halted for a time. We thought
that if we condoned the death of $50
we might still maintain peace with that
power.
But 1T was not to be, and after more
than a year Germany announced her
purpose to resume this murderous and
illegal course toward innocent Ameri-
cans Had we hesitated, we would have
lost our independence as a people. Ger
many deliberately forced us into the
ranks of her enemies, and she did it
because she was obsessed with the be-
lief that the submarine was the instru-
ment of destruction by which she might
win the war.
at Danger Point
But we are at a danger point. Eng
land and France and Russia since 1914
have been fighting the battle of the
world and fighting for us of America.
The three years or more of war have
drained their vitality, strained their
credit, exhausted their manpower sub
jected manw of their noncombatants to
suffering and destruction, and they have
the war weariness which dulls the ear
lier enthusiasm for the principles at
stake.
THE war is now to be determined by
the active tenacity Of purpose of the
contestants. England showed that ten
acity in the wars of Napoleon. Napoleon
succumbed General Grant in his Me-
moirs, says that the battle is won. not
in the first day, but by the commander
and the army that is ready, even after
apparent defeat to begin the next day.
1t is the side that has the nerve that
will win
"It is dogged that does it Stamp on
all proposals Of peace as i'll advised or
seditious, and then time will make for
our certain victory.
when the war is won, the United
States will insist on a just peace, not
one of material conquest. 1t is a moral
victory the world should win.
Meantime, let us hope and pray that
all the allies will reject proposals for
settlement and compromise of every ma
ture; that they will adhere strictly and
religiously to the principle that until
victorious result gives security that
the world shall not again be drenched
in blood through the insanely selfish
polish of a military caste ruling a de-
luded people intoxicated with material
success and power, there will be no
peace"
Is Held at Columbus
0o S,,,;o1I;no CLoo.