Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-08-26
Why GerninY Can Not Make
Reparation.
BY Roland G. Usher Author of
.Pan-Germanism'" Pan-American-
ism.''


/ ISM"
The Presid snt's last answer to Ger
! many insists once more that Germany
publicly admit the sinking of the LusI-
tania or the imperiIing of neutral nom
combatants to have been q crime
against international law and against
humanity. Such an admission, such
reparation. Germany seems not at all
likely to make: Nor are the reasons
far to seek.
| The Germans stoutly refuse to admit
that the Iusitania was in any sense
crime. but they certainly do realize
now that it was blunder Of colossal
magnitude. They intended to strike
England blow, at once dramatic and
costly; a-ship worth millions, cargo
worth millions, supplies desperately
needed. all should disappear in the
space of few moments, revealing the
true possibilities of the submarine for
the first time, proving to England for
first time the extent of the damage
which Germany could infiict. Itwould
be great exploit whose effect on Ger
man public opinion would be favorable
and heartening.
Had the Germans dreamed of its
effect upon public opinion in England
and America, the ship would not have
been sunk. To the public in both
countries the deed gave point and con-
firmation instantly to every allegation
made about German atrocities, about
German barbarlsm, and international
disregard of the laws of nations and of
humanity Indeed; it was obvious that
for long time to come the worst that
could be said about Germany would
seem to the public in both countries
only too credible, only too probably
true. Such an effect could not have
been expected or intended when the
act was ordered, for expediency alone
would then have prevented it.
But now the deed is done, nothing can
possibly undo its effect on public opin-
ion. No reparation, no apology, no
4 money payment can erase or change
the fact that Germans did lott. Could
any diplomatic document achieve that
purpose. there would probs bly, be nc
/ hesitation in Berlin about dispatehipg it
at the earliest possible moment. The
worst of-it is that for the German gov
ernmt mt now to admit the act contrary
to the international law ard an inhu-
man deed, would mere ly intensity the
evil; the whole world would at once say,
it was so bad that even the Germans
themselves had to confess it crime.
}, GUS. The Kaiser cannot actually write
himself down murderer and declare
/ that he plotted the deed in cold blood
Nor do Germans forget that what they
actually said in their diplomatic com.
munication will weigh little with the
general public as against the beie1
that they have confessed themselves
guilty of all the enormites with which
' the press and the cartoonist have
charged them Whatever they them
selves think about it now, they car
! publicly only take one position, they
must justify it as best they can. Any
thing else will intensity the evil opinion
of them which resulted from it.
-Gonceivably, this weight of blame
5 could rot have been lifted by thu
prompt disoH ming of the deed as un
authorized and the punishment of tn,
Il commander of the submarine for disc
r be lience. Such-an escape was from
i, the fret iInpo, slblr all over the worlt
!, went up simultaneously shout of 10.
It from Germans, a rejoicing over tn
fact SO public and Lnmistak able al
8 acceptar ce of it is as meritorious. ant
y laudable SO uttefly beyond denial, tina
g the Government knew it was id
f to disown it What Germans though
the world knew. not from the deed o
y from the German Foreign Offices, blu
. from millions of German lips. Th
. German nation as whole viewed tn
II deed and pronounced it good.
Here is the vital and unforgetabl
: fact, the real fact that influenced pub
lie opinion in England and Americs, tn
. crime of crimes for which reparation j
impossible, tie fact which ties tn
!, hands of the German officials in negotia
:. tions with the United States. TIL
\ government cannot give the lie to it
own people, cannot repudiate what the
II have already publicly approved, can
not officially say that they do not be
e lieve right what the German peopl
v have affirmed to be right thousan
e times in a thousand ways.
% The effect of the whole incident upo
g American opinion could not be erase
by anything Kaiser or diplomats coul
/ say, though if it could they would pro
e probably try to say it. But to confes
IS the deed unjustifiable, is to brand thei
e own people as barbarians for havin,
joyfully approved that brutal deed
If This they cannot do. This they wi
not.do. There seems to be no reason
= able doubt that official Germany is o
the same opinion as the people at larg
and that it does not wish to make an
such admission as President Wilson de
mands. But under the circumstance,
l. could not not make it if it wished.
le This is what the American people a
le whole do not yet seem to see and
y is highly important that they shout
t grasp it as soon as possible.
Ill THE murder of American passenger
/