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SEPTEMBER, 1918
The Commoner
Austria's Peace Pro
posal (Continued from page 8.)
itself solve its internal problems, and
that no one could imposo-a constitu
tion on Germany from the outside.
Premier Lloyd George declared at the
beginning of this year that it was not
one of the allies' war aims to parti
tion Austria-Hungary, to rob the
Ottoman empire of its Turkish pro
vinces, or to reform Germany intern
ally. It may also be considered
symptomatic that in December, 1917,
Mr. Balfour categorically repudiated
the assumption that British policy
had ever engaged itself for the- crea
tion of an independent state out of
the territories on the left bank of
the Rhine. The central powers leave
it in no doubt that they are only
waging a war of defense for the in
tegrity and the security of their ter
ritories. "Far more outspoken than in the
domain of concrete war aims has the
approchement of conceptions pro
ceeded regarding those gliding lines
upon the basis of which peace shall
he concluded and the future order of
Europe and tho world built up. In
this direction President Wilson in his
speeches of February 12th and July
4 th of this year has formulated prin
ciples which have not encountered
contradiction on tho part of his allies
and the far reaching application of
which is likely to meet with no ob
jection on the part of the powers of
the quadruple alliance also, prin
ciples, supporting that this applica
tion is general and reconcilable with
the vital interests of the states con
cerned. "It is true it msut be remembered
that an agreement on general prin
ciples is insufficient,' butnbat there
remains the further matter of reach
ing an accord upon their interpreta
tion and their application to in
dividual concrete war and peace
questions.
GUARANTEE OF DECISION
"To an unprejudiced observer
there can be no doubt that in all the
belligerent states without exception,
the desire for a peace of understand
ing has been enormously strength
ened; that the conviction is in
creasingly spreading that the furttier
continuance of the bloody struggle
must transform Europe into rufns
and into a state of exhaustion that
will mar its development for de
fades to come and this without
any guarantee of thereby bringing
about that decision by arms which
has been vainly striven after by both'
sides in four years filled with enorm
ous sacrifices, sufferings and exer
tioim "In what manner, however, can
the way be paved for an understand
ing and an understanding finally at
tained? Is there any serious prospect
whatever of reaching this aim by con
tinuing the dlsciiSfilrm rf npnoo in li
jvay hitherto followed? We have not
the courage to answer the latter
question in the afflmative. The dis
mission from one public tribune to
another, as has hitherto taken place
between statesmen of the various
countries, was really only a series of
monologues. It lacked, above every
'nmg, directness. Speech and counter
speech did not fit into each other.
Jiie speakers spoke over one anoth
ws' heads. .
''On the other hand was the pub
I'l'ity and the ground of these dis
cussions Which rnhhorl tTinTM f fl,
Possibility of fruitful progress. In.
I'uuue statements of this nature
vJi0m of el0(iuenoe is used which
eckons with the. effect at. great dis
tances and-on the-masses Consciously
or unconsciously, however, one there-
11
by, increases tho distance of oppon
ents conception, produces misunder
standings which tako root and are
not removed, and makes tho frank
exchange of ideas more difficult.
Every pronouncement of leading
statesmen, is directly after its ad
versary and before tho opposite side
can reply to it, made tho subject of
passionate or exaggerated discussion
of irresponsible elements.
INFLUENCE AT HOME
"But anxiejty lest they should en
danger the interests of their arms by
unfavorable influences and feeling at
home and lest they prematurely bo
tray their 'own ultimate intentions,
also causes the republic statesmen
themselves to strike a higher tono
and stubbornly to adhere to extreme
standpoints.
"If, therefore an attempt is made
to see whether the basis exists for an
understanding, calculated to deliver
Europe from tho catastrophe of the
suicidal continuation of the struggle,
then, in any case, another method
should be chosen which renders pos
sible a direct, verbal discussion be
tween the representatives of the gov
ernments, and only between them.
Tho opposing conceptions of in
dividual states would likewise have
to form the subject of such a discus
sion, for mutual enlightenment, as
well as tho general principles that
shall serve as the basis for peace and
the future relations of the states to
one another and regarding which, in
tho first place, an accord can be
sought with a prospect of success.
"As soon "as an agreement were
reached on tho fundamental prin
ciples, an attempt would have to be
made in the course of the discussions
concretely to apply them to in
dividual peace questions. There will
be no bbjection on the part of any
belligerents to such an exchange of
views. The war activities would ex
perience no 'Interruption. The dis
cussions, too, would only go so far
as considered by the participants to
offer a prospect of peace. No dis
advantages would arise therefrom.
'Far from harming, such an exchange
of views could only be useful to the
cause of peace.
THE AUSTRIAN PERCEPTION
"Mountains of old misunderstand
ings might be removed and many new
things perceived. Streams of pent-up
human kindness would be released,
in the warmth of which everything
essential would remain, and, on the
part of, much of which is antagonistic
to which excessive Importance is still
attributed would disannear.
WHEN THE NATION IS BONE DKY
1 ' " i i hi ..SrWriil i urn . .1 . i i atj7wt i W mi i ii I .
Wkea Wildcat Bill ctaes U to ht m tW t'owa Wkea Cmm MreeitatMge Claw JTHMr, 1
be will here f lead i ea aartfatWa, pd, A, u take a drink Mil hare f get It at '
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''tJ.JW Patebmere wall hare to be eheJatd it tke The tow drunkard wHt kr t M adte t bh
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T$ eely pttee yea eta see, a drink will be i& the "tiler' " Hlef will become a deed Ueiuius In Uh
'WHptajmf. United States, like Leila $ad German.
(Copyright: 1918. By John McCutcheon.) From Chicago Tribune,.
"WHERE IS BRYAN?"
v
fidence, respect and love of mogt t
There is a paper up in Minnesota ' PP,0?,1? " tho globo. In addition to
Wli?ol, (mod liv M,o nntno nt flin nnrlluli tJllB " IJUMilU M.UUWU lllUL IIB
Wing Eagle." A more appropriate number of the so-called great paper
iiavi; uua'ivu nuu u, ugicumuui lu lay
nore Mr. Bryan as far as yossiblQ and
avoid giving publicity to the work
ho is doing. Tho public knows, or
could know, why this is true and that
name for it might bo tho "White
Liver Buzzard." Like many other
papers, this sheet makes frantic ef
forts to obtain notoriety by saying
cording to our convictions, all objects
we owe humanity to examine,
whether now, after so many years
of a costly but undicided struggle
the entire course of which points to
an understanding, it is possible to
make an end to the terrible grapple.
"The royal and imperial govern
ment would like, therefore, to pro
pose to the governments of all tho
belligerent statea to send delegates
to a confidential and unbinding dis
cussion on the basic principles for
the conclusion of peace, in a place,
in a neutral country and at a near
date that would yet have to he agreed
upon delegates who were charged
to make known to one another the
conception of their governments re
"cute" things about prominent men. .U""A """ J". tulB ia ",,u f"u l"1'
It asks the question: "What has be- JJ is a ve WJJ compliment to Mr.
come of one William Jennings Bryan, BI?afn-Clay Center' KanH-' Econ-
of whom we used to hear occasionally.
in times gone by? Bryan, where
is Bryan?" Now, it is true that SOME OF THE BITS YOUIt LIBER
TY BOND WILL DO
If you buy a $100 bond of Ih
Bryan these days, but intelligent .'Fourth Liberty Loan you arc lending
people know why, and they know the United States Govcrment cno.ugh.
where he is. They know that he has 'money to feed a soldier in France a
done more for the Red Cross, the Y.j little more than seven months., Or
M. C. A. and similar organizations, you have furnished enough money to
people who depend upon a certain
class of newspapers for their Infor
'Ac- mation do not hear much about Mr.
give him a complete outfit of winter
and summer clothing, including ahoe
and stockings, and slicker and oyer-
and more to make America's partici
pation in tho war popular than has
.!... ....aa ninn ni..,.
any uium uuiiujicu iinvuic i;ui.uiioi
in the United States. He has made coat and blankets, with enough left
more effective speeches to larger , over to arm him with a good revolver,
audiences In upholding the war and, You have done that much to beat
in tho cause of true patriotism. They .back the Hun.
know that from the very day that we It takes $35 more to arm him with
entered the war to the present hour, I a rifle with a bayonet on ltr and MC
Mr. Bryan has devoted every day and I you . buy a second $100 bond you
every particle of his wonderful furnish him this rifle and 1,00
energy to make the war a success and , cartridges for it; and there will 'still
build up needed reforms in this be enough of your money left to
country. The intelligent public knows purchase a good-sized bomb to throw
cardine those nrincinles and to re-ltnat tw,ce "as "e nomwuieu aim in a augouc, or demolish a machine
ceive analogous communications, as elected Woodrow Wilson president gun together with the Huns operat-
wgII as to reauest and crive frank andit unueu duuus. immiuw '-.""''.Jng it.
candid explanations on these points! be gave us the right to elect UnUed
which need to bo precisely defined. I States senators- by direct vote. They
"The royal and imperial govern-' know that through his efforts we are
ment has the honor to request the going to have national prohibition
mmfflmint of thrmiirh thP kind! and woman suffrage. They know that
mediation of your excellency, to' he has justly gained the reputation j
bring this communication to the l uviuB cc ui .u.j ., .. .-
government of
Man pays for all he gets in tnfc
world in two ways workin"f5r.'it
and worryin' about It. Baltimore
Sun. "'
tractive orator in the world by his
rrvuo o nf ti,A in tprnifidlarv honesty, sincerity and ability. They
government and of that addressed in know- tbat by right living and right
tho noto dispatchpd are left blank.)' thinking he has gained the eon-
Pronouncing, correctly the. nAm
of two French towns out of fourM
a good battling 'average; Tolt
Blade.
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