AMERICA DAY BY DAY

Evening Star, Issue 16350, 16 February 1917, Page 1

AMERICA DAY BY DAY

CASTIGATING WILSON,

The other day the New York * livening Post’ published a trenchant letter by Mr Victor Mitchell, K.C., of Montreal, who did not spare the President. He wrote : “ If President Wilson desired to give aid and comfort to the enemies of the Allies lie has eorkiinly succeeded. If, on the other hand, ho desired to promote peace he could have chosen no better way to defeat the object he had in view. Peace can only come when liberty and public law have been re-established, and the world relieved from the menace of Prussian militarism.

“ Mr Wilson, in his Note, says that ‘he takes the liberty of calling attention to the fact that the objects which statesmen of the belligerents on both sides have in mind are virtually the same, as stated in general terms to their own people and to the world. Each side desires to make the rights and privileges of weak peoples and small States ns secure against oppression or denial in the future as the lights and privileges of the great and powerful States now at war.’ It was certainly a liberty—almost an impertinence—on his part to address such words to the Allies, who are lighting in defence of tho ‘ weak, peoples and small States,’ whose territories have not only been invaded, ravagod, and pillaged, but whose populations have had to endure unspeakable crimes committed by the Power that now seeks tho help of tho great United States to save it from just punishment.

—‘An Insult to. the Allies.'—

“Is it necessary for the President of the United States to tell the Allies tuat Germany now claims to be fighting for the saino principles of liberty and right for which the Allies are flgliting? We have all read the speech of the German Chancellor, with its sickening references to humanity; but no intelligent person has been convinced that Germany’s statesmen had really any such lofty ideals in mind when they started tile war for which they had been preparing for over 40 years. Surely we are entitled to look at Germany's deeds rather than her words to ascertain her objects in the war. and in view of those deeds is it not a little insulting even to suggest that her objects are virtually the same as the Allies?

“’lh.ii Pjy'sidp I '*- gives equally friendly and to the i'oulonie Allies, notwithstanding that th.c latter—many months ago, it is true —deliberately murdered 118 American citizens when the Lusitania was sunk without notice by order of the German Government, not to mention the other offences against humanity which Germany lias committed in her futile campaign of frighlfulnefs. Such friendship passeth understanding. The President asks all the belligerents to avow the terms upon which the war might be concluded. Since his Note was written, but before it was delivered, Prime Minister Lloyd George announced in the House "of Commons the terms upon which the Allies are prepared to make peace —restitution, reparation, and adequate gua-ra.il tees for the future from Prussian militarism. Is this statement not sufficiently definite lor the President? It sccni;. to me pretty plain. Does the President not think tiut Germany should make restitution to Belgium, Serbia, Ivaiue? Docs ho not think Germany should make reparation for her criminal devastation of conquered territory, for fillips illegally sunk, for non-belligerents foully murdered ? Does he not think the Allies arc entitled to have more security than 1 ioriiLuny'* >ignc<] word as to her intentions in the*, future? Ii ho does, th-en should ho not ask Germany if she is prepared to discuss peace on those terms! If not. what is the use of further parleying? Peace on any other terms would be disastrous to the whole world. Surely it is not in the intcivsts oi the United States t-o have the belligerents patch up an abortive peace■ If the L nited States wishes to short en the war, the President should advise- Germany to confess her sins, and purge her soul by making restitution and r ; jiftration and giving adequate guarantee! for iim future. In the mean time, let t.h« Allies g.-t ~n with the war, and do not iiritatc them with Antes on peace. U'he war has been and is being prolonged by reason of the United States failure rffi« daily to lake a definite stand on th? issues involved.”

BASIS OF ANTI-PEACE MOVEMENT. When tho anti-ponce statement was issued in V\ n-Jiington subsequently, it was in the form of a signed document addressed to the American nation, allowing tliat more tliau 50 prelates and laymen of various denominations, representing many sections of the country, had united in a warning against what they declared mialit 1)0 a. premature peace m Europo which might- bring a curse instead of a 1 Jessing, A mong the signers were Dr Lyman j-.hhott. President Hibben (of PrinoetoiJ I mvcisity), fonnor AI terney-Qenoraj Bniiapa.no, V\ instoa Churchill (theauthor 1 )) ibwitlem, King( of Oberlin College}, Gif. ford Pinchot, George Wharton Pepper ■: Philadelphia), t-lie llev. William A. (Billy) Sunday, James M. Speer (chairman of tiia Laymen's Missionary Movement of Amo lien), the Kev. C. K. Nelson (Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta), the Rev. Joseph F. Berry (Methodist Episcopal Bishop o/ Philadelphia), the Kev. Phillip M. Rhinehinder Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania), Rev. William Lawrence (Episcopal i ■i.-’jiop o! MasaachuseUs}, the Rev. Harry !'• (<J f i-hu Lniou Theological Krmiiinry of the United States), the Rev. diaries B. Anderson (Episcopal Bishop of i.lmago), ami the Kev. William T. Alan/ rung (Rector of Trinity Church, New dork).

The address declared that the Christians of America should consider the right or tttong of the occupations of Belgium, Poland, and Serbia, the Armenian massacres, the destruction of merchant ships, the hardships of the Jews and Syrians, . “. afctolll l’ t to array Moslem acainst Christian ni Holy War,” and to be reminded tliat “peace is the triumph of righteousness, and not the mere sheathing of the sword.” Manv of the loading clergymen of the Western States hav* readily responded to tiro anti-peace movement, and they have quickly signified theii intention of upholding the cause of the Allies, and flatly declare that the peart of the world can only Ire-secured bv the complete crushing of that hydra-headed monster Prussian militarism, which ha* wrecked Europe,