Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-13

If Germany has learned this lesson why
has there been no change in the German
Constitution. which places all this power In
the hands of William II? The Kaiser has
promised election reforms repeatedly, but
they are still scraps of paper" Some day,
! am certain, the German people will see
That the Kaiser is relic of the Dark
Ages.
rms Is no time for an informal conference
with Germany. This is no time for peace
discussion. Every argument advanced for
peace in the Allied countries is an encour-
agement to the German Government. Ger
many hopes for peace, Germany Is In
trlguing for peace, Germany is moving
every power in the world susceptible to her
influences in the direction OF peace because
the German Government knows that the
longer the war lasts the stronger the lib
eral movement in Germany becomes. Every
time this movement grows the hold Of the
German authorities on the people becomes
less secure. And the Kaiser cannot permit
a democracy within his realm because q
democratic Germany would never sanction
his lawless methods. The German Govern.
ment is outlawed throughout the world, and
the world cannot afford to talk peace, even
informally, with outlaws.
Peace Through Victorious War
The best informal steps toward peace to-
day are preparations for a vigorous Of
fensive in the air, on land and water
against the ruthless, lawless, numbering
dictators of Germany. We must fight until
we can talk peace with honor with respon-
sible representatives of the German people
whose word can be relied upon. We must,
fight until Germany is taught that military
might does not make international right.
our Informal steps toward peace must be
steps toward war.
Years ago when 1 was in college was
a nN R1N
european battlefields during and after the
terrific engagements 1 shuddered to think
that such combats could be possible.
1 recall one time when l was in RUSSIA
walking across a battlefield before the dead
were buried, Scattered about the green
meadow between the two lines of trenches
were scores of bodies, torn garments. pieces
of shells, rifles swords, Bibles, books and let
ters from relatives and friends at home, on
these CHASTITY fields lay human beings, many
or them horribly mangled but with open
eyes looking to heaven. Others were eVl-
IDENTIFY killed as they were crawling along
the ground. Their heads and shoulders
were pitched forward in a heap buried IN
the SOFT green grass. A more horrible sighI
l never saw, and / stood there l won
dered how 1t was possible that among CIV
ilized nations there should be such diner
ences of opinion that they would have 70
murder each others citizens before beihs
"DlS 70 agree Sucn SlBntS Hhuo niS =
pacihst until I returned to Berlin and saw
that all this was not the will of these SOL
diers but OF one Government that all TINS
misery and suffering was not the fault oi
these now silent dead but of one Govern
ment.
Today the whole world sees clearly tina.
so long as this one outlawed Governmen.
can make its own people go to war and 80
| antagonize the whole world, that neaIy
every great nation in Europe. America anu
the Far East is an enemy. then surely this
Government must be dealt with as the stass
deals with an ordinary criminal Then TINS
Government must be punished as com
mon criminal is punished and those VINO
support the criminal must meet the GRIM.
mars fate until the world is made sale
for law-abiding citizens who desire peace
SO religiously and fervently that they AZ
ready to sacrifice their own hives FOR tnp
state In attempting TO overcome the Iet'
tonic criminals who make the world Vo'
safe for democracy
| CARL ", ACI<ERMAN
Philadelphia. October H.