Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-21

An imitation is always more ex-
treme in its characteristics than the
original. So we arc net surprised
to find many Of our Getman-Ameri-
cans Bernhard with his brutal
candor always calls them American
Germans) going to greater lengths
in augmentation than DO the real
Germans back in the Fatherland.
We quoted recently Mr.. Herman
Riders remarks on the foolishness
Of living up TO treaties as evidence
that some Of our Decentralization
are eager 20 out-Bernhardi Bernhard
when it comes to making waste pa
per out of International compacts
Herr Ridder almost praised Italy for
constituting the treaty underlying the
Triple Alliance so as to escape any
obligation to fight in this war on the
side of Germany and Austria-Hun-
gary. He even showed disposition
to excuse Italy in case the latter
should decide that it was to her adj
vantage to forget all about the Triple
Alliance stipulations and to declare
war on her former associates.
Bernhard in his famous book ex-
pressed the fear that Italy would
avoid the obligation of giving mill
tary aid to Germany In the next
European war. But neither he nor
any other German back In Germany
has ever admitted that Italy would
be justified in fighting for selfish
reasons on the side Of Germany's
enemies. However scornful they
may have been of the inconvenience
of treaty arrangements where Bel
GUM was concerned. they have never
risen to that height OF consistency
and philosophy from which they
could applaud Italy for treating the
Triple Alliance compact as a scrap
of paper" Morally emancipated
sister, 80 in peace" said Mr.. Ridder.
But according to reports from Eur
ope, the Kaiser. voicing the natural
though illogical feeling of his sub
iects telegraphed to the King of
Italy: win or lose, Germany will
never forgive your perfidy."
Now we have in Mr.. Riders news
paper a second example Of the ex-
tremes Of reasoning 20 which our
German-American friends are cap
able of going. The Hon. Peter S.
Grosscup. of Chicago, has contributed
10 the "Staats-Zeitung" an article
intended to prove. not that Germany
broke the Treaty of London and the
laws Of nations in violating Belgium's
neutrality. yet did e solely because
of alleged military necessities, but
that no treaty was Lroken and that
no moral wrong was committed at
all. Here are two extracts from
Judge Grosscups article which must
All ovon flo tnoct darinry ltou,a opofo-
gists for the invasion of Belgium with
envy and Amusement;
Now with all these facts in mind
what was, not the technical. but the
moral obligation of Germany to Bel
GUM? BY going across Belgium she
was not forcing war on Belgium; for
although Belgium was under no duty
to Germany to grant her transit she
was under no duty to England or
France to resist IL by force
Indeed, Belgium's right not to be
molested. even by troops in transit
was not that of guaranteed neu-
trality' at all, resting on treaty, but
of territorial inviolabdity. resting on
the fact that she was an Independent
nation-the same right that I hav,
to exclude you from my house, no
because YOU have agreed with som,
one else to let me alone. but hecaus,
the law gives me the right. on m,
own account 10 be let alone.
Some abstract rights have {,
yield, on occasion. TO greater con
crete needs Whether Germany wal
morally right in attacking France IL
one question; her military necessi
ties, in case she was morally RICH