The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-10-02
From Other
Editorial Pages
rs GERMANY GROGGY?


Kansas City Journal While there Is
no justification for any hope that the
German government is ready to talk ra.
tionally upon the subject Of peace. evil
dence accumulates that the German
people are giving very serious thought
to the matter and are discussing II with
a freedom and frankness without prece-
dent since the war began. There IL al
ways a vague suspicion that the pres
ent apparent liberty of expression Is an
adriOt maneuver on the part of the Jun
kers to convey false impression either
to the German masses or to the world
at large. Autocracy has suchs a firm
hold upon Germany that II III almost
inconceiyeable that freedom of speech
should be permitted without some SIMS.
ter purpose back of 1t. Therefore all
that comes out OF Germany evincing
popular dissatisfaction with the govern.
ment will be regarded with suspicion.
1t has always been something of a
mystery why Vorwaerts, the socialist
organ Of Berlin. has been allowed to
express such democratic ideas--ideas
that run counter To the whole imperial
stic program. II is now reported that
Vorwaerts has come out for the com
plete restoration of Belgium The pa.
per is quoted thus: Whether the Ger
man government remains deaf thereto,
it Is not only a question of power or
policy, but justice and conscience. No
policy Is truly wise that disregards the
moral and legal factors in the life of
nations. Despite the bowling of the
mailed fist principles. we affirm that
right is right ard that Belgium has the
right to its independence"
In the same connection reference may
he made to pamphlet just published
by General Baron Won Freytag -Loring
hoven, chief of the supplementary gen
eral staff of, the German army. in
which he says: The general political
and economical situation of the world
works only In favor of our enemies and
the German soldiers will be defrauded
of the fruits of their victories" In the
generals opinion. the German often
sive is not strong enough to overthrow
the allies. Commenting upon this re-
markable pamphlet, the Post of Nun
ich declares that the reasonableness
of the generals utterances will teach
the pan.Germans, who would fight TO
conquer the whole world with their
mouths, to estimate correctly the limi.
tations of Germany's military power"
The Post continues: Our world eco
nomic position must be changed com.
pletely by "A new administration of our
foreign policy based upon democratic
principles. Therefore we do not require
a strong peace against the east and
west which would bring us into opposi.
ton with all the great powers, but a
far-sighted and lasting peace agree
ment.'
utterances to come from such sources.
They indicate one of two things:
Either Germany is upon the verge of a
military and economic breakdown that
makes the immediate prospect of any
kind of peace u matter of national sal
walton. or else the German people are
so weary of war and so hopeless of a
victory commensurate with the sacri-
fees entailed that they are ready to
acknowledge the principle of universal
justice and world democracy Already
edged condition of peace that there shall
be no anneXations and no indemnities
on the basis of the reichstaG resolution.
That is a concession far beyond any
thing that any German would have
dared suggest at the beginning of the
war, when the arrogant war lords eX-
ulted at the confidently expected cap
ture of Paris.