The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-08
GERMANY'S AIMS.

An interesting future for America
and democracy is being worked for by
those who urge a negotiated peace
The status that existed before the war
cannot be established. The great
war will have been and it's effects viii.
remain. A negotiated peace will rep
resent German victory and will fore
shadow, if the western continent is
frightened or beaten into subserv-
inence. German world. World do
minion or downfall" truly said Bern
hardi I'VE must fight Germany on
the other side or fight her here" as
truly says Franklin Lane.
Our safety depends on now break
ing the power of Prussian autocracy.
Not since Rome has any state so
steadily pursued as has Prussia a pol
icy of conquest From the time of the
Great Elector to the present the rec
ord is one of persistent aggression.
Other nations have had their periods
of conquest fever, but have recovered.
Their dominions have grown up more
by accident than by design. Prussia,
with devilish consistency, has stuck
to one method. Prussia bit three
times into the living flesh of Poland,
forcibly annexed Silesia, part of Sax
ony. Swedish Pomerania and West
phalia, tore Holstein and Schleswig
from Denmark. gulped down Hanover
and dismembered France. Little
would remain of Prussia if Invested
of her conquests. She is now doing
what she always has done.
/
tarize her entire population, COM
PEELED other nations in se1f-protection
to initiate her. She set the evil exam
pie of menacing permanent alliances.
and thus forced counter-alliances
Having Prussianized Germany, Prus-
STA launched the present war to create
an empire to stretch from the North
sea to the Persian gulf. Serbia. re-
fusing to compromise her independ-
ence, was an impeachment. and word
went out from Berlin to crush her.
We now know why Germany backed
Turkey in the Tripolitan war, altho
aware Italy would be lost as an ally
When German power to the southeast
was consolidated, then Great Britain
was to feel it's weight
When the kaiser began to issue his
war declarations Prussian militarism
had behind it only little more than
100000 people. A negotiated
peace would mean German mastery
over 2OO.OOO,0OO. If the pacific peo-
pies. improvising armies, were not
able to overcome the old Germany,
what could they hope to achieve
against a Germany of doubled re-
sources?
If Prussia is to continue to be Prus-
STA, and if negotiated peace doubles
Prussia's power, says the New York
Globe, we will not be let alone. Pres
ident Wilson is criticised by conscious
and unconscious friends of the kaiser
for having put this country into the
war on too narrow doctrinal ground
and in the next breath is venomous,y
assailed as a visionary altruist. Both
elements. of course, entered into the
decision-we would .vindicate our sea
rights and serve humanity; but back
of these reasons is the vital instinct OF
'self-preservation. We have as much
at stake as any of our allies. We are
fighting our own battle. The alliance
not born of diplomacy and resting or
no treaty, is a spontaneous coming to.
gether in behalf of a common cause
Those of our own people who do not
recognize what German success would
, mean to US are either pro-German al
heart or very stupid persons