NO INCONCLUSIVE PEACE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13968, 27 August 1917, Page 4

NO INCONCLUSIVE PEACE.

Aythc'time when a great fire, tlpatenirig the fabyic of civilisa-i tion lias been lighted by highly-, placed criminal incendiaries,' and is still raging, every person, irrespective of his station in life, wlio attempts to puncture the hose, must not be surprised if tliise who are risking their lives in quelling , the conflagration still raging fiercely—its authors still hopeful'it will not be extinguished—voice some rather impatient words. .Just at present the Allies arc doing their best to save all nations from the evils of the now menacing system of ruthless militarism. Hence it is hard to discover the real purpose of the Papal proposals.,' The best answer to Cardinal Gasparri is contained in one of President Wilson's eloquent utterances. At' a Flag Day celebration, President Wilson set forth in detail the reason why the United States went to war with Germany. Dr Wilson • laic! special stress on the dangers of an inconclusive peace: "Do you not understand the new intrigue, the intrigue for peace," the President-asked, "and why the masters of Germany do not hesitate" to use any Agency that promises-' to effect their purpose—the deception of the nations?" President Wilson thus answered his own question: "The military masters under whom Germany' is bleeding see very clearly to what point fate has'brought them. If they fall back or arc forced back an inch their power both abroad and at home will fall to pieces like a house of cards. It is their power at home they are thinking of now more than their power abroad. Jt is that power which is trembling under their very feet; and 1 deep fear has entered their hearts. They have but one chance to perpetuate their military power or even their controlling influence. If they can secure peace now with the immense advantage still, in their hands, which they have up to this point apparently gained, they will have justified themselves bej fore the German people; they will I have gained by force what they ,I promised to gain by it—an im,11101130 expansion of German power, j an immense enlargement of Ger- ■ man industrial -and .commercial op l J portunitjes. their'prestige will |be secure, -and } with their prestige , their political power. If they fail j their people will thrust them j aside; a Government accountable ■ to the people themselves will be set up in as it has been |in England, in the United States, in France, and in all the great | countries of thy modern time cxI cept Germany. If they succeed I they are safe arid Germany and , the world are undone; if tlTey fail Germany is Saved and the world . will be at peace.'' President Wil- , son is quite convinced that peace at this hour would be a calamity to the Allied cause and only to be regarded by the German people as a victorious peace. Doubtless Germany herself would lose .her chance of freedom, but the milii tary caste would prevail and all , Europe would arm for the next, : the -final struggle-, Peace now I would mean, in President Wilj son's stirring words that "the [world would be dominated a long jage through by sheer weight of arms and-the arbitrary choices of ! self-constituted toasters, by the nation-which can maintain ,the biggest armies and the most irresistible armaments—a power to which the world lias afforded no parallel smd in face of which political freedom must ,wither and perish." • Peace is impossible until Germany is.brought, to her senses and offers equitable terms. Until then, despite the proposals, which come from 'various quarters, the Allies, must continue their work of uibduing the world-wide conflagration, by the pouring out of lives and of ■ fortunes until the force] of. justice' and liberalism which are'gathering ont of the war win'a signal- triumph over the dark forces of Prussian militarism and all'the pernicious influences associated with Kaiserism.