Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-20

nave been sunk. The Danish barken- tine Jorgenlarsen is believed to have been sunk.
 moment when this note was being written about their unswerving con viction as to the respect due the rights of other nations.
 Not the Moment for Peace.
 Are these outrages the legitimate interest of Germany? We must know. That is no ta moment for peace. It is excuses of this kind for palpable crimes can be put forward two and half years after exposure by the grim facts, is there any guarantee that similar subterfuges will not be used in the future to overthrow any treaty of peace you may enter into with Prussian militarism?
 'The note and speech proves that they have not yet learned the alphabet of respect for the rights of others.
 Without reparation. peace is i'm possible. Are all these outra ges against humanity on land and sea to be liquidated by a few pious phrases about humanity? Germany leaves us | oeXact the damage for all future vio- lence committed after the war. We must exact it now, so as not to leave such a grim inheritance to our chi1- dren.
 Much as we all long for peace, deeply as we are mortified at war, this note and speech, which herafded it, do not afford us much encoura cement to hope for an honorable and lasting peace.
 Boast of Prussian Military Triumph.
 What hope is given in the speech that the whole root and cause of this great bitterness, the arrogant spirit of the PruSsian military caste, will not be as dominant as ever, if we patch up peace now? The very speech in which these peace suggestions are made Tesounds to the boast of Prus- sian military triumph. It is a long paean over the victory of Won Hin denburg.
 We must keep a steadfast eye upon the purpose for which we entered the
 war; otherwise the great sacrifices we have been making will be in vain. The German note states that it was for the
 defense of their existence and the freedom of national development that the central powers were constrained to
 take up arms. Such phrases are in- tended to delude the German nation
 into supporting the designs of the Prussian military caste, who ever wished to put an end to their national existence or freedom from develop ment. We welcomed their development so long as it was in the paths of
 peace.
 Prussia Has Been Bad Neiehbor.
 'The allies entered this war to de- fend Europe against the aggression of
 Prussian military domination, and, having begun it., they must insist that the only end is the most complete ef- fective guarantee against the possi- bility of that caste ever again disturb ing the peace of Europe. Prussia, l since she got into the hands of that
 caste, has been a bad neighbor, arro- gant, threatening, bullying, shifting one fair field after another from her weaker neighbors and adding them to her own dominions.
 With her belt ostentatiously full of weapons of offense, and ready at a moments notice to use them, she has always been an unpleasant, disturb ing nelghbor in Europe. She got thor oughly on the nerves of Europe; there was no peace near where she dWelt. It is difficult for those who are fortu- | nate enough to live thousands of miles away to understand what it has meant to those who live near
 France and Russia Menaced. Even here with the protection of the broad seas between us, we know what a disturbing factor the Prussians were with their constant naval menace. But we can nardIy realize what it
 meant to France and Russia. Several times there were threats directed against them even within the lifetime of this generation which presented the alternative of war or humiliation. There were many of us who hoped 1 that the internal influence in Germa nv would be strong enough to check and ultimately to eliminate it.
 Now that this great war has been forced by the Prussian leaders, it | would be folly not to see to it that | this swashbuckling through the streets | of Europe and this. disturbance of peaceful citizens was dealt with here and now as the most serious offense against the law of nations. We will wait until we hear what terms and guarantees the German gov
 ernment offer other than those which l she so lightly broke. And meanwhile we shall put our trust in our un- broken army rather than in broken faith.
 For the moment I do not think it
 would be advisable for me to add | anything upon this particular invita- 1 tion. A formal reply will be delivered by the allies in the course of the next 1 few days"