Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-31

tion and variation from the principle he
has laid down. When he is satisfied
with its application there is nothing
more to be said upon that score SO far
as he is concerned. Thus are many Of
his action, which appear so incompre-
hensible to friend and foe alike, made
clear to all. He has no principles. He
has only applications.
Therefore it is that the United
States, for the first time in its history,
energies from war without having at
tanned the object for which the war was
fought. George Washington and the
Revolutionary fathers fought that war
for independence and freedom. They
refused to make peace until their prin-
ciples were recognized by their enemies.
They would not enter into large dis, 4
cussion" about the application of thei
principles. They had to be recognize
and accepted before there could be am
discussion at all. AS result they won
a complete triumph for their principles.
James Madison and the Americans of
his day entered the war of 1912 against
Great Britain for the freedom of the
seas, and for the principle that "free
ships make free men, That war did
not end until that principle was ac-
ccptcd by the enemy, and, although it
was not written into the peace treaty.
1t has never since been violated by
England.
The great Civil War was fought for
the preservation of the Union. That
was Lincoln's great principle. He would,
he said, meet any body who was au-
thorized to treat for peace on the basis
OF the preservation of the Union. He
would not talk with any body who.
would not accept that principle. And
that war resulted in the triumph o}
that principle.
Mr. Wilson laid down fourteen prin
clples for which he said the United
states was fighting this war. All Of
them We're accepted by the Germans as
basis for the peace of the world
All but two of them were accepted by
the Allied powers. But at the Peac.
Conference all of them were abandoned
Dy Mr.. Wilson and the Allied powers
and conquerors' treaty based on bar
gain and compromise, which is called
the application of the fourteen points,
has been forced upon Germany and is
now in process of being forced upon
the American people through pressure
upon the Senate. This is the first
shameful peace in which the govern J,
ment of the United States has eyel
participated, and it is shameful because
the representatives of the United
States at the Peace Conference sacri !
feed the principles which the president
had declared to the world should b
the basis Of peace. The treaty of ALI l
ance with France only adds to tho
shame of the treaty>uf force with Ger i
many. Impartial justice, that playd
no favorites," sleeps in its grave all
Versailles, and Prussian arrogance, res j
urrected, speaks in almost every chan j
ter and section of this so called treaty.
of peace.
Principles" may have little Interest
for Mr.. Wilson, but there are still mil
lions of Americans who are interested
in them, and who believe that once
they are accepted as a rule of conduct
they must be adhered to. These Uni
TED States have grown to their present
proud position of wealth, power and
dignity, because for more than a cen :
fury and a quarter, they have adhered
to and guided their conduct by the
principles of government established
for them by the founders of the repub- :
lie. Their only danger today of losing
that position of dignity and power lies
in a departure from their settled priD-
ciples Of government. Mr.. Wilson urges
them to give up the principles under
which they have prospered and grown
to nightly nation for his application
of the abandoned fourteen points. Is
the country ready to make such dan !
gerous change in its policy? i DON
think SO. II. b.
Philadelphia, July 30.