Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-20
PRESIDENT SPURNS
PEACE TERMS AS
OFFERED By FOE
Attacks Germany's Attitude as
Voiced by Hertling.
SAYS AUSTRIA WANTS PEACE
Wilson Tells Congress Count czernin
Sees Principles Of Issue With Clear
Eyes-AIly for Settlement by
conquest-U. S. Will Con-
tinue War to the End.

tinue War to the End.
Washington, Feb I3.-President
Wilson, before congress on Monday. re-
piled to the recent peace speeches by
Count Won Hertling. the German chan
cellor, and Count Czernin. the AustrO-
Hungarian foreign minister.
The president openly regarded Count
Czernin's speech sympathetically. hut
he considered the Austrian foreign
minister restrained by the embarrass-
ment Of AuStria's alliance and her de
peudence on Germany.
Count Czernin," said the president,
''seems to see the fundamental ele-
ments of peace with clear eyes and
does not seek to obscure them"
Chancellor Hertling's speech. how
ever, the president characterized as
very vague and confusing" and full
OF equivocal phrases leading clearly
nowhere. The aim of the German
chancellor, as judged from his speech,
the president thought, evidently was TO
secure a peace advantageous TO the
aims Of the German military aut0cracy
and then subscribe to an international
covenant to make it secure.
Warns Military Autocracy.
The president reminded the states
men of the central empires that peace
can be discussed only on the basis Of
permanency and essential justice and
broadly warned the people of the cen
tre' empires that the participation OF
the United States Ia the war for the
emancipation of humanity has only be-
gun.
Plainly the president warned the
German military autocracy that there
was to be no pausing in the mobiliza-
ton Of Americas vast military re-
sources now steadily on their way to
the battle fronts. and that II peace
were to be discussed, it would have TO
be en- basis Of sincerity.
Otherwise, the president made It
plain. there was 70 be no turning back
until military autocracy was crushed
by force of arms.
Count Hertllng, the president lie
clared, evidently was seeking such a
peace as WAS made at the congress Of
Vienna.
What Is at stake now" said the
president, as the pence Of the world.
What we are striving for is new uni
versal principles of right and Justice
40 mere peace or shreds and patches.
VIII Force Justice.
In conclusion the president warned
the central empires that the vast re-
sources OF the United States would ac-
complish In the end what might be
accomplished by peaceful negotiation.
our resources Hre In part modified
now" said he. land we shall not pause
until they are modified In their en-
tirety. Our armies are rapidly going
to the fighting front and will go more
and more rapidly.
Our whole strength will be put into
this war Of ipatiOn-emancipa
ton from the threat and attemnted
mastery Of selfish groups OF autocratic
rulers-whatever the difficulties and
partial delays. We are lndomitable
IN our power Of independent action
and can in no circumstances consent to
live in a world governed by Intrigue
and force.
THE power Of the United States is
a menace to no people and no nation.
II will never be used in aggression
or for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF any
selfish interest Of our own. 1t springs
out OF freedom and is for the service
of freedom"
The president was interrupted by
applause at every reference TO the
United States standing steadfastly
against patched-up peace.
Probably the greatest applause broke
ont when the president declared that
the militarists of Germany were the
only element now preventing a world
peace. When he concluded after speak.
ing 20 minutes the entire audience as
usual rose and cheered.
Presidents Address.
The presidents address is as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the congress:
"On January / had the honor OF
addressing you on the objects Of the
war as our people conceive them. The
prime minister OF Great Britain had
spoken In similar terms on January 3
To these addresses the German chan
ceiior replied on the oath and Count
czernln for Austria on the same dav.
II is gratifying To have our desire so
promptly realized that all exchanges
of view on this great matter should be
made in the hearing of all the world.
Count Czernln's reply. which is d.
rected chiefly to my own address on
January s is uttered in a very friendly
tone
He finds In my statement sufi-
ciently encouraging approach to the
views of his own government to Justify
him in believing that ii furnishes a
basis for n il0re detailed discussion Of
purposes by the two governments. He
is represented To have intlmated that
the views he was expressing had been
--o~~~-~-~-~~-~~~-~~~~~~~-