Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-08
What Germany Thinks of Us.

You're a lot of fat people who are all
for money German officers told before
1 left Germany. You might lend the Allies
lot of money, but you couldn't do anything
else You have no men. Your people would
not 20 TO war. You could not make them
fight"
This saws former Ambassador Gerard, was the
impression throughout the Hohenzollern empire
Here and there a lucid mind would perceive the
moral hardihood beneath Americas materlal
prosperity and would realize the tremendous man.
power which the great democracy of the New
World once aroused, would pour into the war.
But the masters and creatures alike OF the Prus-
sian military machine thought of Americans as so
many dollar chasers who were too stupid or else
too timorous to challenge the red march of Ger
man ambition They could not understand how
a nation that was peace-loving could be valorous
mr. how a people who held to human-kindness
could be stirred to fight They were astonished
when we declared and still more astonished'
no doubt, when the results OF Registration day
became known. But Germany's contemptuous
opinion of our country will not be wholly dispelled
until an American army is smashing its way across
the western front straight for the heart OF the
Kaisers stronghold.
Nor will this country be secure until that is
done We must defeat Prussian miltartsm on
it will assail upon this side. We have entered
the war in defense not only of certain great prin-
cipIes hut also in defense of our shores and our
very homes We are mastering army to fight
i'm France and Belgium in order that our own land
nav be spared the hideous outrages which Ger
man savagery has visited upon French and Belgian
soil Let there be no illusions concerning the
course victorious Germany would take toward
the United States. Already the Junkers are boast
irfan IN
upou us: and if by i'll chance they ever set foot
upon our land. the darkest legends of the Indian
massacres would be repeated and outdone in blood
thirstiness.
For in addition to their contempt for Ameri-
can fighting ability, TIE German militarists have
acquired an intense, deepseated hate OF all Things
American. They feel because we would not stand
meekIv by while our women and children were
being slaughtered by U-boats, that we have Kept
the Kaiser from decisive victory. They hate us
furthermore because we are a great democracy,
while all their interests and ambitions depend upon
the triumph and perpetuatiOn of autocracy They
hated US before we entered the war and they
schemed then for our undoing; but since we have
taken m the sword in defense of democracy and
have openly challenged their foul play against man
kind they hate with consuming hatred that
will pause at bounds to get revenge
If. then. we are to have any assurance of peace
and security in the years ahead we must exert our
utmost strength to defeat Prussan militarism so
Overwhelmingly that it will never spring up again
as a menace either to the Old World or the New.
We make common cause with the great democra-
cies of Europe or be left alone TO bear the full
brunt of barbarism. We must defend our shores
and our homes on the battle front OF today, or
be left to defend them when German guns are
laundering at our gates. We have taken the only
course that brave or wise. We have taken it
wholeheartedIy; and we will see It through.