The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-11
MOST DASTARDLY
 CRIME OF THE AGES
W. b. Houseman Deplores Universal Criticism of Emperor William by American People-Says He Is
 Not Responsible for the War


 strong terms. He said that after the children of the schools had been edu- cated to the belief that war in civi- nzed countries was a thing of the past the ideals now are being shattered and the school child of the future will have to wade through another bloody chap ter of barbaric cruelty and human slaughter in obedience to a conscience less despotism that blasphemously in- vokes the aid of the prince of peace to disturb the peace of the world.
 Dr. Phillips mentioned no names as to whom he viewed to be responsible for the present situation in Europe His statement was based on the news dispatches from Europe as they are re. lceived in Birmingham.
 Is Dastardly Crime
 What do I think of the presen, war;" echoed Dr. Phillips. q am un. able to command words strong enough to express my feelings. It is the most dastardly crime of the agees War fo, defense or for the relief of an on. pressed people is praiseworthy. Bul a war based upon imperialistic greed envy, selfishness and reckless ambition has its cause deep laid in the mos, malevoient motives and the most ma iishaht passions of the race. To char acterlze 1t in the words of Ruskin as a folly that could have been pre- vented. rather than necessity tbat must be accepted is far too mild To justify the conduct of the great now. CTS responsible for the war seems in, possible The world has travelled toe Tar on the road to civilization to ado,, their pretenses or to accept their cop. ception of patriotism.
 From an educational point of view thls war Is repulsive and abhorrent For several years the schools bav. been emphasizing the princip1e os ar ol'ratlon and inculcating the doctrin. UT universal brotherhood The graa, peace palace at The Hague has beer neio up to the youth of the land as tb. concrete symbol of the reality of thas. doctrines. The progress of the Amar ean echooi Peace league and the cele ora'ioh or Peace day in the publi, schools on May IS of each succeedins year had developed in the rising eene. ration the love of peace and a horror even of the thought of war.
 All these ideals are now Shattered and the children of the schools mus, wade through another bloody chante, Of barbaric cruelty and human slaurb. ter In obedience to eonscienceless des- potism that blasphemously invokes the ald or the prince of peace to disturb the tranquility of the world.
 Not Result of Ignorance
 So long as war was confined to Mex leo, Turkey or far off China the school could apologize to the fmpressiona ble child by attributing it all to the dark ness of ignorance. The people had nc education they had no public schools hence war and pillage, injustice and cruelty. But today the most enlight- ened nations of the earth. the best edu- cated and the most highly civilized people of the world are suddenly hurled into the cruel maelstrom of war. And all of these nations participated in the peace conferences al The Hague
 No matter how the map of Europe may be rearranged or how her political geography may be rewritten; no matter what material benefits may accrue or what personal ambitions may be grati- fled as a result of this war. there can never be adequate compensation for the dreadful human slaughter,A the destruc- tion of property and the lowering of the level of civilization. What a pity that thousands of brave men, who had no cause for quarrel, should be compelled to sacrifice their lives and their homes to gratify greed in the name of false patriotism! Those who are primarily re- sponbile will no doubt be held account able at the bar of history for this crime against civilization"
 w. B. Housemann a we'll known citi- zen of German, percentage who has spent many summers in Luxemburg, is one of the staunch supporters of the German Emperor in the present European war. He said yesterday that he could not censure the Kaiser for this war as he believed it was brought about by in- ternal conditions about which there is little known outside the European countries involved. MT. Housemann said that 1t was extremely regretable that the American public had seen fit to SC bitterly condemn the actions of the German government.
 HOuseman Defends Kaiser
 T am sure the opinion of this coun. try has been hastily formed" said Mir Housemann. T am at heart opposed te war on account of the great suffering that 1t calls for and the terrible hard. ships that the countrymen are forced to undergo. At the same time the sov- erign powers of Europe must retair their honor. am informed that a greai many Irritating questions have ariser until Germany could not permit fur. ther bickerings. On the surface. how. ever, l would not hastily approve whal the German Kaiser has done, but I an fair enough to withhold my final tude- ment one way or the other until the situation has more light shed upon 1t.
 "I am free to defend the German army as to entering Luxemburg. That Is the strategical entrance into France with Liege, Belgium, and 1t was the fortunes of war for that country to be invaded. Treaties as we all know are made only to be broken, and do not think the Germans should be so severe ly criticised for taking advantage of a strategical situation when 1t could not be avoided in order to properly safe- guard the Fatherland.
 sT am told that there will be issued in New York soon a paper sponsored by Germans in this country which will give correct and unbiased account of the war and which I trust will be read by Americans SC that they. will not form erroneous opinions about the causes and effects of this regretabls Aituation-"