South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-01

nOvelists. These forty blue penciling gentle
men-forty fooling like one-can they really
apprsise the practise effect. say. OF the repercns
sion on Russia OF the elimination from British
journalism OF all sympathy for Russian social
lsm?
But by far the most important Question
that call for the novelist is the popular de-
mand for the exterpAtion OF PrussiBn mifitar-
ism as a condition precedent 20 peace. as In
deed the only way % avoid premature or
AN inconclusive peace" OF course. II this
means roofing out the Prussians, IL is a Mill
tAry question on which the novelist must not
presume 10 offer opinion. and II the miif
tarY experts assure me that with the forces
at disposal. and despite the accessory
hordes OF Austrians BulssTisns and Turks. We
can wipe out sixty millions OF the stout
est fighting stock on earth at least render
It impotent 10 reproduce It's martial strain.
can only express my satisfaction.
But IL IL means that we are 70 force a change
OF heart upon Germany. 30 that she purge her
self from within Of her militsrism then as .
novelist must regretfully report that this
can never be done by csstigstion. For in
order that the chasttsed party be converted
he must be conscious OF his guilt
A clerk caught forging. a schooIboy caught
crfbbing. may draw the conclusion. as they
vrithe under the judge OF the rod. that cheat
ing never prospers. But the suffragette caught
indow-breakipg had feeling OF injury not
guilt, and her punishment only enhanced Der
sense Of saintlinesL Did the Germans feel
that they had drowned the world in tears
and blood for mere lust Of domination then
punishment would seem to them a righteous
nemesis and they would turn from their ldola-
try OF force
To our cry Of -Prussian mIlitArisn" they Cd
pose British navRiism'-the dictatorial might
of our grand feet, with its 1900 subsidiary
vessels The Bryce report on Belgium they
counter with equally official documents on the
Russians Ia Poland or the Turcos in France
Nothing" says the Kolnische Voikszeitung
English Government the war with all its hor-
rors," whilst the case for Germany" accord
ing to the writer in the Fatherland. has the
grandeur Of a mighty crusade, the ssnctinca-
ton of a sacrihcial cause, the glory OF a vast
and universal ideal"
Against such a state OF Kindergarten as
II Is by Germany's crafty introduction OF civil.
zatOn into the conquered parts OF Russia
force is powerless. The more the Germans are
crushed the more holy and innocent they will
feel, the more sternly they will brace them
selves to build up their army afresh.
AS the blood of the martyrs IS the seed OF
the church, so punishment would only be the
seed Of a and still mightier Germany And
hence the conversion OF Christmas 20 Chris
tianity. by consecrating IL 10 a conference OF
belgerents for a belated peace. might be
more fatal to militarism than all the military
victories we promise ourselves
But | am encrOaching on religion. and the
novelist-no less than the bishOp-must con
fine himself TO mundane considerations when
he touches on war He has not even the
bishops privilege Of blessing the war. He re
mains a simple student Of it's psychology.
Jealous 20 impart his wisdom at his couRtry's
call