Evening journal., 1918-10-16
Number
LETTER FROM MIR. SHAW TO MIR.
TIJNULTY

LETTER FROM MIR. SHAW TO MR.
TUMULTY
Washington, d. c.. Sept. 10, 1913.
Hon. Joseph p. Tumulty, White House,
Washington, d. G.
My Dear Mr.. Tumulty: The CORES
pOndence between you and Hon. VIII
II. Hays, chairman Of the Republican
National Committee, which appears in
the morning papers, interests me, as 1t
must every loyal American.
Mr.. Hays speaks officially for the Re-
publican party, and seems abundantly
able to take care OF himself. As a life
long Republican, feel justified In giving
expression to The dominant thought Of
thousands, and I believe millions, OF
Republicans who have no authority TO
speak except personally.
l am gratlned TO note that Hr. Hays
limits his denial TO negatlving having
ascribed TO the Democratic party a read
mess to conclude an incOncluslve peace
for purely partisan reasons. In other
words, he denies having accused the
party, or It's great leader, OF entertain
ing other than lofty motives.
I read and re-read your reply TO Mr..
Hays, and looked in vain for some word
OF disapprOYal Of what bordered on In
structions 10 the soldiers at Camp Grant
10 vote at the recent Senatorial election
| In Wisconsin, and DO vote for the Demo-
cratic nominee. Am ! to infer that
telling soldiers The President, your
Commander IN Chief, desires all loyal
Americans TO vote for Joseph E. Davis
for United States Senator" has Executive
approval or was 1t an oversight on
your part?
It Is no criticism OF our President to
say that up TO the time when we enter
ed the war Woodrow Wilson was a
pacflst. Before that event he had made
his famous declaration that there should
be peace without victory" Then,
upon the anniversary Of our entrance
into the war, in a speech at Baltimore,
after reviewing his efforts as a paclflst,
the President said: II am ready, ready
still, ready even now, 10 discuss q fair,
Just and honorable peace at any time
that II is sincerely proposed"
The fact that he follows this with
expressions OF regret that Germany
had met all his overtures as peace
maker with the declaration that nothing
but force would end the struggle, and
then adds the heroic statement that he
accepts the challenge, force without
stint It shall be-" does not qualify the
preceding statement that he Is still
ready to discuss peace. This warllke
utterance, and his many subsequent
statements about victory, ETC., taken
together constitute, as l interpret them,
good faith announcement TO the
American people that until Germany Is
also ready 10 discuss a fair, just and
honorable peace" force without
stint" will be applied; and an equally
good faith announcement TO Germany
that she will not find II necessary to
prolong the struggle further than 70
convince herself that she cannot win by
force.
Germany had captured much terri
tory, a part Of which she had formally
annexed. and with more Of 1t she had
made advantageous treaties. II would
have been worse than folly to have ex-
pected a Prussian Emperor, at a peace
conference to which he mad been invited,
and with assumed reluctance had con-
sented TO sit, to surrender all this terri
tory and abrogate all these treaties,
when the Allies as yet had nothing tan
gible 10 give In exchange except cap
tured ships and a few relatively I'M
important colonies.
A peace obtained by discussion such
as the President declared on April 6
he was still ready to make, OF necessity
must be a compromise peace, a peace
without victory, and therefore an in
conclusive peace.
The President had said several times
prior to April that peace leaving sub
jugated territory in Germany's pos
session would be inconclusive, and the
fact that he has said the same thing
since does not imply that ne has
changed his announced willingness to
discuss peace at any time. He has prom
ised victory, and already we have
had victories. II Germany shall en-
large her franchise, as she evidently in
tends doing before she seriously con-
sents to discuss peace" that Will be
another victory, and that fact alone
might be construed 'as having made
the world safe for democracy" and
thus the contamination Of what the
President has said was the purpose
for which we went 10 war. Then II
Germany should be willing TO sign a
treaty for disarmament and a league
Of nations, with some great American
as the first President Of the Federation
OF the World, and should restore Bel
gium, surrender France, concede Russia
enough territory to cover her name
plate on the map, who shall say that
the President would deem the terms
unreasonable or other than fair, Just
and honorable?
But, my dear Mr.. Tumulty, a great
many OF us Republicans believe the
world will never be safe until Prussian-
ism, as the world understands Prussian-
ism, is dead and buried and that
Prussianism can never be eliminated at
a conference table, whoever may have
the honor Of sitting at its head
While l commend the Presidents
'frankness in thus announcing that he
Is ready, still ready, ready even now.
TO discuss peace" / have grave doubts
Of the wisdom Of ratifying the same at
the forthcoming election. do not
criticise the President for his attitude
In the premises. simply regret it.
call attention TO some other frank an
nouncements of the Presidents policy. |
While on this subject might as well !