The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-30
Facts, Not Fiction.
Charleston American.

pretty SAFE lulllS 10 UeIIefe HOlHlHS
you hear now says a contemporary,
and forthwith asserts the probability
OF a revolution in Germany. or
course the terms "superman, Hon
enzollern," system, that falls to con
troll the stomach" and other sto1h
phrases are strewn throughout the
discussion.
This taking things for granted is
what we have tried to warn against
from time to time-the invention OF
fiction about other nations. We find,
for instance. assurances of "greai
', friendship the Japanese have for US
! every where in the daily press; we
are tod even the Mexicans now love
US, and all this although, or, perhaps.
because we know better. This is not
the way to serve America first. We
want to know facts about our foes,
not fiction.
Acquainted with facts, We will
know how to deal with them. But II
We indulge in fancy, we are sure to
fall into grave blunders, even as the
French foolishly believed the German
people were unwilling to remain in
the war, and were kept in solely by
the kaiser. The French have paid
dearly for the mistake. Russian and
English armies have paid for their
contempt and false estimate of the
Turk, who was pictured as commit
ting suicide by aiding the doomed
Austrians and Germans The Rum
anians we're pictured as heroes, pa-
triots, powerful enough to end the
war by their mere prowess. They
proved easy victims. These wrong
ideas, advertised systematically. have
duped neutrals until they awoke to
realities. And this, perhaps, was the
main object, in order to interest I'm
In the cause of the entente, and to
tempt them in, each, as it was por-
t-ayed by their seducers, to end the
; conflict.
But If the United States now en-
! cages in war, cheap phrases will not
help us to win. We must be prepar-
ed, not only with arms, and ships,
and foodstuffs; but also in knowledge
! of our foe. To overestimate him
would be better than to underesti-
mate him. To the truth, however,
the people who are going to fight are
entitled to.
Every student Of German politics,
her forms of government and her
| people, surely knows that the Aohen-
zollern and superman stuff IS all non-
sense. The kaiser. AS matter OF
| fact. is not clothed with the authori-
! ty his English enemies seek to con-
yey. He is not above the German
constitution any more than our presl-
dent is above the American constltu-
tion. and has in reality less power.
He cannot declare war, nor could he'
for instance, arm merchant vessels
, and send them across here to force a
blockade, if for instance, this coun-
try had been blockaded by Japan. or
=, England or any other nation. Inc
world we'll remembers how some
years ago, when the kaiser delivered
q speech that did not suit the Reich
stag, he was prohibited from making
public speeches for over a year. me
Socialists have ever refused to rise
from their seats in honor OF bis en-
trance in the Reichstag. II they
would refuse such honor to our presi,
dent in this country they would most
! likely he expelled from congress. =
/ Don't let US indulge in ignorance
about Germany and see a revolution
headed her way. One is far more
likely to come in England, when the
people are distraught by incompetent
! government. The Germans are not
at the end of their rope, and the ka1s
er is not likely to abdicate. II we
have to fight Germany let US realize
that we are confronted By foe that
+ might remain on the field long after
| Europe has come to peace, and "hen
! Japan would still be able, consistent
! " with her alliance, then to help
i Germany. Let US trust In our strength
and our unity and not in hopes OF cal
Does the average American know
! the mighty kaiser is but the presl-
dent of many States, some OF them
Kingdoms, some dukedoms, some re-
| Du1 llCS! his cllullcGfOU "So1u hH~ y
less influence on the continuation or
the war, than that of King George. or
Lloyd-George. or Poincare: Germany
is united, by hunger, perhaps. Dut
united solidly. Let US open our eyes
to that fact. It believes all the war
and all its woes come from England.
The people cannot help knowing that
their hunger, at least, was caused by
the English illegal blockade, and they
fight England in bitter retaliation.
prey would, perhaps, give anything,
except victory over England, to re-
main our friends, now at least. These
are facts which to know is necessary,
because then we will know how to
fight intelligently and to some pur-
pose.
Knowing them, it Is necessary to
prepare for the gigantic task OF war
with Germany. We must prepare
for every eventuality. To indulge IN