The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-09-20

!
philosophy of history taught by your
university professors we could never
have much admiration or respect
Both seemed to us unworthy of an
Intelligent, civilized people, and sure
to lead to disaster. Your military
preparations, evident to every observ
ant visitor, had long caused us to dis
trust your government and to con-
slider your country a menace to the
worlds peace In a word, we admired
and loved your people, but we dis
approved and distrusted your react
ionary military government.
Such was our attitude when the war
burst upon the world
! Germany committed certain acts
which are freely admitted by your
government. A nation, like a man, is
judged by it's deeds. The deeds them
selves have been the supreme, force in
shaping American opinion of Ger
many AS you we'll know, one of the
best tests of mans morals is the
kind Of defense he offers for his
acts. Americans read most carefully
the many defenses offered by your
chancellor, your minister of foreign
affairs, your under secretary of for
eign affairs, your official spokesman
sent to this country, and your am
bassador; and in the notes sent Of
fcially and directly to our govern
ment by your government.
Government Wanted War.
In the first place. Americans, in
general make distinction between
the German government and the Ger
man people. l do not mean by this
that Americans believe any part of
Germany is disloyal to the govern
ment. On the contrary, they believe
the German people as whole are
supporting the government and it's
acts with devotion, and that, there
fore, the German people as a whole
are responsible for whatever acts the
government commits. But Americans
recognize the reality of Prussian
leadership in the policy of your coun-
try They do not believe the Ger
man people Wanted the war, but they
do believe the military government,
under Prussian control, wanted the
war, planned for it with infinite skill
and efficiency for many years, and
hive orb oh uyba ha1i
the time was ripe.
When you have a chance to read
certain documents which your govern
ment does not let you read now, you
can form an impartial judgment as
to whether or not Americans and the
other neutral peoples have been un-
just in deciding that Germany is re-
sponsible for the war;
Gerimany's guilt in forcing the war
is recognized not only by Americans
and other neutral peoples, but by
hundreds of thousands of Germans
who live in neutral countries and
thus have a chance to learn more Of
the truth than is possible in the bel
ligerent countries.
The violation of Belgian neutrality
shocked Americans as it did the rest
of the civilized world, and turned the
tide of sentiment against Germany.
History demonstrates that military
government STILES the finer instincts
of the people which support it.
Brutal and Barbarous.
Your government, in trying to de-
fend itself against the storm of the
world criticism, has admitted and JUS
titled the slaughter of innocent host
ages as military necessity" No
other civilized country does this; and
Americans consider the German gov
eminent both brutal and barbarous
for permitting this utterly inhuman
practice. Your government justhies
and excuses such measures; therefore
Americans have been forced to con-
clude that your government is less
civilized than are the governments OF
America, England and France, which
lOrDlu SUCH COHuuCt'
Your government executed woman
of noble character, and defends its
act as perfectly legal and a military
necessity"
Yet the entire world stood Mortified
when the government of Germany,
with due legal form, committed a
crime against woman hood and against
humanity, which for> centuries will
make Germans blush for shame when
the name of Miss Cavell is mentioned.
The Zeppelin Outrases.
Your government has bombarded
unfortified seacoast towns which Am
orleans know from personal observa-
ton, both before the war and during
the bombardment were not defended
in any way. Mothers and babies were
blown to shreds, but no military dam
age was done in most cases. Dozens
of HELPLESS old men, women and chill
dren were killed for every soldier
slain. The same Is true of your Yep
pelin raids Americans believe these
acts are committed for the purpose OF
stirring up enthusiasm among the
German populace. They believe such
acts are in defiance of the rules OF
civilized warfare, that they are utter
/ Nv inhuman and 'barbarous, and that
nation which approves and applauds