The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1918. PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECH.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1918. PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECH.

No one can read the powerful speech delivered by President Wilson at Baltimore without feeling a thrill of pride that the great American nation is standing solidly shoulder to shoulder with the Anglo-Freneb in this colossal struggle for upholding the law of right. There is a refreshing virility about the President's statements that remove them far above the cold, calculated phrases of diplomacy. He speaks with a directness and forcefulness that enhance the incontrovertible nature of his arguments, and above all there is a supreme earnestness of purpose glowing with fervor, and a confidence ' that no figures of German man power can shake. There was no beating about the bush, but he tilted straightway at the German challenge "to fight I to a finish" with a mighty onrush indicative of the weight of the great nation he so worthily represents. Germany can be in no doubt as to America's, intentions. Clearly and definitely the Teutonic challenge has been taken up. "I accepted the challenge," said President Wilson to his audience, "and I know you will accept it, and all the world shall know you accept it. The answer shall appear in the utter sacrifice and the self-forgetfulaees with which we shall give all we lov« and all we have to renew the world and make it fit far free men like ourselves to five in..i .' . . But one response is possible ■ from us—iforoe—force to the utmost, force without stint or limit, the righteous and triumphant force which shall make right the law of -the world and cast every selfish dominion down in the dust.'' Gawd, n<ftK<ffld tojpjrißfrftaft*

monts these tliat should put to shame the slackers in the Empire. America is prepared "to give all she lias and all she loves," yet some of the British dominions are chary of even giving a limited share of their men a?id resources. That, however, is by the way- America is awake—vigorously awake. The nation of erstwhile dollat-makmrs has heen aroused in defence of democracy and recognises that now, more than ever, the cause which it lias championed must be gained for if that cause is lost their own great nation's place and mission in the world will be lost. Turning to fiermany's objects in this war, Presidti.ti Wilson again went straight to tha mark. After comparing G.-'/huu peace professions with what had proved to he Gorman policy in Russia, Finland and elsewhere, Dr. Wilson asked: "Are we not justified in believing that they would do the same things on the Western front if not face to face with armies which their countless divisions could not overcome?" He then puiatcd out that the Germans undoubtedly purposed to makfe all the Slavic peoples, ail the free ambitious nations of the Baltic and all the lands Turkey has dominated snd misruled, subject to their will and ambition, and to build upon that domination an Empire of force and gain, with commercial supremacy- an empire as hostile to America as to Kurops-an empire Which ultimately would, master Persia, India and the peoples of tin i'ar East. What would be the result? If Germany is once allowed to carry out that programme, then, says President V.'lson, AmericV and all who care for, cr dare stand with her, must aim themselves in a contest for the mastery of the world —a mastery wherein the rights of men and women, and all who are weak enough, must for the time being be trodden under foot, and the old age struggle for freedom and right begin again. That is the position exactly. There k not the slightest excuse for all the world not knowing by this time the reasons why Germany embarked on this terrible war. Once again President Wilson has done splendid' service in the cause of freedom and humanity. An especial feature of this great, convincing speech is the reiteration of the fact that America proposes no injustice to Germany, and that the President even now is ready to discuss a fair, just and honest peace if put forward with a sincere purpose, but America is fully prepared to fight to a finish. Tho words uttered by the President at Baltimore will ring throughout, the world and be an inspiration to further efforts to defeat German military despotism. By a happy coindflenc* tfiiw 5 limultaneously published ft brief summary of what America has done dnrmg the year since she entered tne war. There are also two other notifications worthy of notice. One refers to a further draft of 150.000 men being called up, and the other is a statement by Mr. Lloyd George that during the next few weeks America would give the Prussian military junta the surprifie of their lives. At no time could these announcements have been more fitting than the present, when the Allies arc facing very heavy odds with a heroism worthy of their best traditions, and the fact that the Americans are taking part makes the President's action all the more acceptable, as well as a happy augury of the triumph of the champions of right over the worst form of attempted world domination.