New-York tribune., 1918-09-22
"VEN peace offensive may be
~ costly. The Central Powers, it ap-
.AA nears now have maid haauilu for

TACT LuaC IL IS OCL yet Over.
The tone of German and Austrian
comment indicates that the recoil Of the
offensive was heavy one. It was
recol due in large part to the instant
sharp reputation by the whole Ameri-
can people of any compromise to end the
war, of any bargaining that would for
get the ultimate objectives for which
America and the Allies are fighting.
But the Central Powers have paid in
still another way for their peace attach
paid a great price where they least ex-
pected to pay. For if the peace batting
Of Austria has had any effect at all in
the United States it has been to disclose
in strange and fascinating manner to
what extent the people of America have
been welded together in their aim to con-
quer brutal foe.
1t was as if Austria's proposal had
been the one means to lift the curtain
from the collective American mind, pre-
senting even to Americans themselves a
solidarity and unanimity on the ques-
ton of bartered peace of which they
had not themselves been aware.
There is much that is Illuminating in
survey of American opinion, much that
is astonishing in the discovery that opin-
ion against lending an ear to the trick
cries of enemy diplomats had come to
definite form even before the President
spoke his own curt refusal. The quality
of American faith has been confirmed.
We have stood firm against an insidious
and Machiavellian attack, and our re-
bound attack has carried US to domi-
mating height.
The apparent willingness to accept the
Austrian overture shown by "The New
York Times" in it's editorial columns fol-
lowing the publication of the peace note
made the position of that newspaper con-
spicuous by it's loneliness. Here again
the public temper was amazingly dis
closed By its attitude "The Times"
seemed to push spring in the American
mind, the result of which was to bring
on itself protest so immediate and SO
powerful as to give the episode a unique
and almost historical quality.
Comment on the peace gesture in the
newspapers covers the entire field Of war
aims and American idealiSm. 1t is main
tained widely that the war cannot be
ended by bargaining, that the offer of
secret discussion is directly opposed to
the very purposes for which we fight,
that the German people can be convinced
of their monstrous mistake only by the
lerce power Of Allied arms.
The Presidents response, however, has
caused to be pointed out that there has
been no change from the attitude defined
by former executive speeches, and that
no door has been closed to enemy repent
alce. Comment on the whole peace
movement, from editorials printed all
over the United States, follows:
lhe New York Evening Post.
Our point is simply that President Will
sons blunt refusal of the Austrian pro-
pVSal does not mean policy of unlimited
''ooo-letting. There is no threat in it Of
war of determination. Whenever the
4'u'onlc powers are ready for peace they
I'd" nave it. But the terms are known in
advance. Till they arc acceded to there
40 nothlng for it but force without stint or
'''n't' All the parleyings must be done by
'"e drumming guns that leave no doubts,
until the time comes when the governments
o' Austria and Germany come to the scratch
a"d agree to the terms of peace long since
and repeatedly offered them.
The Philadelphia Evening Ledger
ANY turning aside now, any momentarv
inclination to temporize, would be tho Ar.t
mt in the splendid structure Of our pur-
pose. 1t would be unworthy Of the count-
'ess vaiiase aaen who fought and died only