The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-15

tioHS' cHtcIcu tHc War. III all tn"
nations lighting there came to be Il
very distinct recognition that the war
was being waged not primarily
against a nation, but again It an idea
that it was above all battle to de-
fend civilization as they knew it
against what seemed to them the es-
sential and destructive barbarism of
the German idea.
This barbarism, this German idea
associated itself in the minds of many
people with the ruling caste of Ger
many, and with that ruling caste
which controlled the army. We had
therefore equally denunciation OF
autocracy and of the House of Hohen-
zollern. which was at it's head, and
of German militarism, which was the
expression Of this German idea
Quite loosely, therefore, we have all
come to talk about the war as one
between democracy and autocracy,
and President Wilson and others
have asserted that there was no quar-
rel with German people.
But is this an exact statement?
Do we yet know what was or is the
view Of the German people? Ger
tainly nothing that has so far hap
pened has suggested that the German
people found the things done by Ger
man soldires or statesmen abhorrent,
since all the Germans we know or
read have justified them. What we
do hear and suspect is that the Ger
man people are becoming tired Of n
war which has not succeeded and Of
the leaders who have not achieved
Victory. despite the blood tax. they
have levied.
Are we quite sure that the Ger
man thing we all abl,or and are fight
Ing was merely the expression of the
few who controlled German machin-
cry in July and August, 1914?
Granted that there is no desire now
in any sane mans mind to apply Ger
man methods to German cities.
women. children. to apply to German
provinces and German towns the doc
trine of the Pan German and tho
Jnnker, is it still possible to consider
peace and peace terms to the utter
exclusion Of what Germany has done
for three years?
To The Tribune the fact seems per-
fectly clear. One Of two things must
happen. Either the war must go on
to a military decision because the
German people still remain faithful
to the gospel of force and the doc
trine Of barbarism, or the German
people must of themselves renounce
the doctrine and dispossess those who
have applied the doctrine all over the
world.
II there must be a fight to n mill
tary decision. then there is no need
of discussion. All discussion is, in
fact. hopeless II the Germans are still
OF the mind that was written in
Louvain and the Lusitania. expressed
In Zeppelin raids and submarine kill
lnss, and to talk about peace with
Germany Is like discussing relations
OF amity with a man-eating tiger
whose jaws are still stained with
fresh blood.
But IL Germany Is to free herself
from this doctrine and this policy. 1t
patent that the measure of
her own freedom must be her recog-
nirion of the duty of repairing the
Injuries she has done. so far as they
can be repaired. Above all. IL 4 new
born German democracy is to super
sede an overturned autocracy, we can
only recognize it's character when 1t
presents as its peace proposal a pro-
gramme which carries with 1t as q
first article the indemniflcation of
When Germany attacked Belgium
she visibly and unmistakably left the
ranks OF civilized nations. The issue
OF Belgium Is between the German
people and the whole world. Unit
Germany meets the Belgian issue
sauarcly there can be no crossing tho
guif that divides the German people
from the rest Of mankind, because
with nation and with q people that
can permanently justify this crime,
the rest of mankind can have no re-
iations, save across the firing line
TO use Mr.. Wilson's rather vague
phrase In specific application, the
world will not be safe for democracy
as long as any nation, with weapons
IN its hand Is nble IN i,ot;f,, o,., t.