The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-15

~ EADINO the record OF Germanys war
n methods. even those OF US who en-
deavoring TO think saney through these
evil days must be impressed by the over
wheming evidence OF their brutality and ruth
lessness
We who have travelled in Germany not once.
but many times. know full well that harshness
and cruelty are not associated with the ma
jority. There are countless Germans who
could only be cruel In obedience 10 orders. and.
OF course every German will do what he Is
told Just as the Children % Israel did when
Joshua. who appears to have invented fright
funess.- was carrying out his merciess cam
paign II we admit that the simple German of
the south Is not cruel at heart. that he Is
rather IA dreamer and sentimentalist vita
strong love for domestic pleasures. We find that
the policy Of "frightfuness" must be ascribed
20 the military party, consisting for the most
part OF Prussians with headquarters in Berlin.
There men the organizers OF war, and
speak through the mouths OF writer's Ike
Treit-chke. Bernhard and the rest II is they
who have torn up the treaties and conventions
that we're. humanity hoped to decide the con
duct of war. They responsible for the
curious outburst OF national hatred against this
country that is ut once startling and - siy,
a revelation of the sad truth that Germany Is
suffering from neurosis.
have been trying 10 trace "frightfuness'
to its source not through the medium Of books
or papers but in the light of my own know
edge OF the country and my past acquaintance
with some Of its leading men. and l think that
the phiosophic historian OF the times to come.
whose vision is not obscured by the smoke OF
battle or the fury OF combatants. VIII not
hesitate 10 declare that the worst and saddest
features OF war as waged by the Germans
are due to the fact that In their country
La haer
in the country OF any other great Power.
The fault as | will point out later on. is not
that Of the women but Of the leaders Of Ger
man faction who have deliberately suppressed
woman and of nearly all the leaders OF German
thought who, being dependent on Government
favor have subscribed to their policy OF delib
crate suppression Here and there indepen-
dent thinker has arisen. nearly always from
1he ranks OF Social Democracy. Bebeis book
on women. for example, ia a standard work.
but the few lights do no more than emphasize
the darkness.
Look round Europe for a moment. Russia Is
n backward empire and the spirit OF progress
moves over Il with slow feet but Russia Is
mailing vast strides and the plough that VIII
trace deep burrows In the virgin soil OF It's
social life is drawn by and woman to-
gether. All the professions are open 90 women,
even those in which women are not found here
The Russian engineer who planned the newest
bridge over the Neva was woman Men and
women students work side by side on terms OF
absolute equality, and compete for honors that
often fal, 10 the gentler sex.
Russian women Of the educated classes are
more than merely well informed. they are bril-
liant Linguists women OF affairs, they have
grip of actuallties OF the empire Of which
they form a significant part. In spite Of auto
cratic rule and limited freedom there Is such n
full life for the Russian woman as her German
sister has never known. except In dreams Of
emancipation. In Finland. be II remembered.
women sit In Parliament
Turn 20 France. and II may be declared en-
phaticaIly that woman rules Women are doc
tors. barrsters and scientists: they are mem.
bers ~ the Goncourt Academy they are the
heads ~ some Of the most important business
institutions; they give the most exclusive salon'
their distinction. Public opinion Is moulded by
them: their influence makes and breaks
Cabinets Tcminism IL one " the strongest
forces in France Qulcscent to-day or workins
in quietness. this force will dominate a Francs
released from war
Even IN Belgium OF whose progress We heal
- little women have been largely responsible foi
- the organization of the middle and workin.
classes. an organization that WIS vel nigl
complete before war broke out. and In tm
slow rebuilding that r. 10 come we may iOoi
with confidence h. the Belgian woman TO psl
. O. leading role Turn 10 n group Of neutra
couutrie4-Denmark Norway. Sweden--and
will be seen that femlnism Is moving with vas
strides along the path o. national progres.
Woman is asserting herself IN an 81 them. con
tributing her thought TO her oountry's prob ems
taking an ever important place IN IT, councils
Alone n the great Powers Germany IN
elected TO forget or 10 disregard as a negligible
quantity the opinion 81 woman, and the reaso
is not far 10 seek For years past the Germa
ias forgotten tho respect and reverence h
owes IN his own womenfolk HHechs. Kindo
Kbchc-he calls ALTERATION 10 his aid 10 81
press a growing contempt for the sex and m
narrouest possible view - its world function
Intoxicated with the vision 81 imperial domin.
ton, he has REGARDED bis own sex az the on
m0ffr. .rf.ar.n
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