Evening journal., 1916-06-30

The present week, Whlch sees lne |
anniversary OF the murder Of the
Archduke. sees also the beginning of |
what we may justly and reasonably |
believe to be our deliverance from the |
German nightmare which for two
years by violence in action and for a |
generation by violence in threat has
laid a strangling hand on the throat |
Of civilization.
Looking out upon the battle fronts !
from where must come our deliver /
ance. our release from the blacklist |
peril that has menaced us since the
Spanish Inquistion marched with
equal step with the Spanish infantry,
II is patent that Europe is at last be-
ginning to shake off the German
domination. In the east Russia has
struck the first great blow. In the
south Italian armies are advancing.
In France Verdun still holds ana the
armies of Britain are preparing tol
deliver the heavy blow, so long and
eagerly awaited.
II Is doubtful If any moment in the
last century, perhaps in many CEN
turles. has been so critical in human
history II Is soon to he settled, let
us pray, forever. that violence, bru-
tality. material efficiency accompan-
led bv spiritual obliquity cannot pre-
vail in our Twentieth Century II Is
soon TO be demonstrated that no prep
aration i'm destruction. no ruthless
ness in action. no application OF the.
gospel of terribleness Joined to the
religion OF mechanical perfection can
chain the minds of men. can reduce
the world TO a slavery in which mems
bodies grow fat but their souls Ian
guish.
We know now 10 the very bottom
what the German idea and ideal
mean. We have seen them applied in
Belgium and France. We Americans
have stood beside the graves OF our
own murdered women and children.
who escaped Prussian lust but not
German terribleness. All mankind
beyond the confines Of the German
Empire and those Of the Austrian
ally have taken full measure of what
German purpose means and in many
tongues and many languages German
will be an adjective Of ignominy for
years to come.
The armies Of revolutionary France,
Of Napoleonic France. when they
overlooked into Europe carried with
them the gospel of liberty, of frater-
nifty, Of equality. Wherever they pass
ed they left behind them a heritage
Of progress and when they had van
ished a new and better Europe
emerged and has endured. After the
French Revolution human slavery in
! the political sense was doomed IN
Europe
But after the German armies have
passed what has been left? Only
ruins. Was there thing beautiful,
sacred dear to France or Belgium,
dear to the world for its artistic
value. dear to the village that owned
| Il. for parochial reasons? It has been
! ruined, dofiled. Wherever German
armies have passed there has been a
harvest OF dishonor for women
shameful death for children and old
men and utter destruction for mani
mate things of beauty.
For forty years Germany dreamed
to dominate Europe, and for two years
she has striven to realize her dream
Millions Of men have died. millions OF
women and children wander in exile
over the face of the world. Human
suffering and misery such as the
world has never known in centuries
have replaced peace. happiness, the
orderly life of civilized countries.
To realize her dream Germany has
murdered Belgium. laid waste North
ern France. crushed Serbia and sent
her army corps from the Dwina to the
Marne All that violence, treachery
deceit. corruption could accomplish
have been accomplished. All that the
gospel Of terribleness could avail has
been realized over half the European
continent
And yet Il has not worked after all
this German thing Men have not beer
terrified nations have not been
broken. Out of all their suiferings the
spirits of men emerge calm. determ-
ined. unsubdued. The conquest oi
spirit has not been had and the body
responding TO the spirit, has remain
ed indomitable. in Belgium, in Serbia
in France, in Russia, in Britain.
Already those who boasted that thu
next war would be for world powe
or downfall" are whimpering 70
victorious peace" in market place
of the world and interrupting thei
bulletins of victory to utter denuncia
tions OF the enemy. who. conquered
will not yield and, destroyed, still
prepares to advance.
Those who come hereafter vii
have better measure OF the gran
deur and the horror of these tw'
years through which we have lived
They will see clearly what has bee
hidden in part from us and they vii
realize as we cannot how much 70
mankind has been won by the defea
Of the German assault upon all on
civilization and all our humanity.
Il has not paid. this German doc
trine. this Teutonic dream. II ha