The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-22
GERMANY'S MORAL BANKRUPTCY

German man power being exhausted. There is renewt
talk about German finances being at the point of co
lapse That Germany's food supply is failing, ever
body knows that many of her industries are RUNE
is not denied; that her shipping and commerce hay
suffered blows which it will take generation to r.
cover is admitted by German business men. 1t is NJ
strange that they reported to be urging peace
an imperative necessity if anything is to be saved o,
of the wreck But Germany has to mourn today
| greater loss than any of those mentioned. She ha
lost her reputation. She has squandered her mora
assets. At time when she needs to call up all he
reserves of good faith and confidence, she finds tina
they have been wasted. Nobody believes her Nobod
trusts her. Upon the German government the disagree
| able evidence that it is morally bankrupt is bein
| pressed from every quarter.
This is the ndesputable truth stands in tn
reception throughout world of the latest
posals of Germany. They meet with almost universe
sceptcism suspicion. This would not be the cas'
if Germany stood in the position which sh
occupied in the worlds estimation at the beginning O.
1914. It at that time had had specific resolution
adopted by the German reichsag and declaration by
the German chancellor emphatic renewed explained
should all have said that there something
iousy to be reckoned with. 1t would have been the
Germany that thought knew saying what it would
be reasonable to believe true. But three years have
sufficed to destroy that presumption is Germany
herself that has taught the world to dstrus her long
Iawessness heaped duplcity of brutality
mingled with deceit has made every uterance of the
German government suspect Hence the amazing, the
painful, unanimity with which the public and the
press in all the begerent and neutral countries
looked the repeated proffers of the German
authorities as merely snare for the unwary. Whom
they trying to trick now? What betrayal
they preparing? For what fresh burst ferocy is all
this mask? Such the questions everywhere pro-
voked by the German official advances in behalf of
peace Germany estensiby holds out an olive branch:
but prudent statesman insist examining it to see
that it does not conceal dagger
Thus is the fated and terrible punishment of Germany
already beginning She is reaping what she has sowed.
Her rulers brought the good their
try into dsrepute Their promises longer pass any
where at their value Every by
Germany is closely scrunized to if treachery
is not wrapped in it. 1t is if the word German
had now become the international trade double
dealing This is the havoc which the German govern
three years has made of the proud old tradition
"Deutche Treue" Today Germans look around the
horizon and nowhere friend, nowhere nation
that will accept the pledge the German government
Everywhere they perceive dislike and distrust This
is the moral punishment of Germany for her crimes
and it is not to be wondered at that many her cit
liens crying that the punishment is more than
they can bear.
In their long studied plans win the great the
German military rulers depended mainly two things
terrorism and trickery Both have only failed Them
but have recoiled upon them with disastrous effect
Against German brutality the exhaustless heroisms of
he soul of mighty flood. Like the man in
3rownings "Instans Tryrannus, Belgium stood erect
aught Gods skirts and prayed" that today it is
Germany that is afraid And even more overwhelm-
ng for Germany than the reaction against her barborous
Methods in is the inevitable results it
# her treaty breaking, her underground plotting
reacherous dealing with nations peace with her
he time when the German government wants
have its acts and words credited finds that it has
self cut away the moral under it It's fair angu
today read in the light of Bethman Hellweg talk
In December 1916. though afterwards admit
ID that he merely seeking gain to build sub
arines and make the ferocious than ever.
he intercepted Zimmerman note is not forgotten. The
erman foreign office has made itself synonym for
The>German government has dis
edited in advance its own documents. 1t has turned
cry mans hand against it.
This, of course can not go forever The rest Of
e world has got to live with Germany and, in the
d ironbound agreement will have to be made with
r. But meanwhile at the present jucture Germany
esents the melancholy spectacle OF great nation that