The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-10-15
THE QUALITY OF PEACE.

1t is proper and desirable that every American citizen
should take personal cOgnizance Of the attempt of the
German to obtain an armistce and peace
conference while its armies are being beaten back to
the German border The substance of this request the
time and Of its presentation and all the condi
tons surrounding the subject are worthy of close study
Upon the decision of one man now hangs the fate of
Nations existing and nations about to be born Upon
single will depends the question whether the civil
lied nations of the world shall enter into conference
with enemy still armed and unbeaten with view
to making peace of kind. The fact that this indi
vidual upon whom much depends the President of
the United States is sufficient reason for the earnest
and solicitOus attention of every American.
With due respect for the opinion of those who have
disagreed with President Wilson's queries touching Ger
manys request for armistce and peace conference
it seems to us that they unduy apprehensve con-
corning his ability to deal with the German
1t to u.s. ALSO that too much anxiety is expressed
regarding the possibility of immediate armistce and
prolonged and inconcusve peace conference If one
two cardinal points are borne in mind they will serve
to aay the apprehension Of those who fear that Pres
dent Wilson may be induced to fOrego the victory that
is in sight, the victory upon which depends the only
peace that free men and free nations will tolerate
Let it be borne in mind first, that President Wilson
has not entered into any discussion with the German
government He was asked to lay before the allied gov
ernments the suggestion of an armistce and confer
ence. He did not agree by implication to do this
or to comply with any other request or suggestion from
Germany He advised Germany that before making re-
ply to its request he had certain questions to ASK
order that his reply should be candid and straight
has answered his questions in such fashion to induce
the public to suspect the enemy another act of perfy
It is incumbent upon the President to reply to Ger
manys request he sees fit
The fact that Germany ostensiby accepts Pres
dent Wilson's program of world peace does not justify
any one in presuming that President Wilson must pro-
coed to negotiate with the enemy. There may be a
thousand why he will not do so and one reason
alone may be sufficient The enemy is unbeaten. No
peace conference will be held while Germany holds
sword in her hand The best authority on this point is
President Wilson.
Why should any American waste time in anxiety, APP
pretending that they about to witness repetition of
the conference and peace of BrestLtovsk? They have
poor respect for President Wilson if they suppose him
to be an intellectual level with the bolsheviki.
Assuming that the German note actually emanates
from the imperial German does not say
so-it insults the Presidents intelligence by coupling
Hungary with the proposal for armistice and
conference The enemy well knows that the tenth item
of President Wilson's peace program of January last
has been superseded by the recognition of the Czecho
Sovak de facto government. Austria Hungary cannot
exist empire if the terms subsequently outlined
by President Wilson executed. The AustroH Hun
garan government does not speak for the people of the
empire, but in opposition to their will This fact has
been brought out clearly by the President than
once.
Peace is coming rapidly-the peace Of victory. The
quality of peace will not be strained by anything the
enemy can do or say President Wilson has intimated
that his reply to Germanys request will be candid and
We may be that it will meet the
most ardent desire Of the lovers Of
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