Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
SeB-Defense Plea
Doesn't Hold Good
as a Hun Argument

respect to Belgium as Germany WAS
behaving. Altogether. the thickness
and cruelty of Germany in the Belgian
matter caused our opinions of the Ger
man government Concerning who be-
gan iD TO become much darker SO
far as Belgium went. the Germans
were fnally and absolutely convicted i'm
the plain sight OF all men: convicted Of
lies as odious as they were stupid: con-
ficted OF the most abominahlc, cold
bioodcd plotting: convicted of a sell
hshness not seen on earth since the
seventeenth ccntur: and of a cruelty
not known since the sixteenth
OF course. men who were capable Of
these things in regard To Belgium were
OF character distinctly capable of
having plotted the grea, war; and as
they lied about Belgium. they would
lie about the rest Of it,
Since then evidence has, piled ur-
evidence not circumstan,ial. but so
direct that il leaves no doubt. This
evidence is colossal and conclusive. and
is alpost al! German. /, is no longer
possible TO debate tho question. and
the court has decided--thc court con-
sisting Of the nations OF the world
That court found that Germans plotted
attempted TO kill the men and women
and children Of certain other nations.
and to continue the killing until these
nations submitted to German domina-
ton. after which all remaining nations
would be compelled 10 submit
1t seemed incredible that these were
such ideas left over in the twentieth
century world. but there is no longer
a ~ If,til !,
but undeniable truth that there exists
a large and powerful group of Ger
mans-prospcrous people and of high
attainment in certain Spccialties-who
decided to have great numbers OF sim
pie minded mon under their orders go
out and kill their fellow-men. and con-
'inuc TO kill them in order 10 increase
tho power of the plotters. The great
majority of the men who did the actual
killing would obtain no benefit what
ever for themselves. and many Of these
German soldiers might have brought
little enthusiasm 10 their task if they
had understood it, so they were told
that they were fighting for the exist
erce" Of the "Fatherland" and that
Russia began it. and England be-
gan it,"
licres in violating oaths-that is. vio-
lating the honor of tho nation which
II represents or controls IA gov
ernment would lie to it's own people
Ut made Germany a pcrjurer. for the
German government stands before the
world as Germany and acts as and for
Gcrmany--until the German people re-
move 1t. and only by removing it can
{ Germans fn-
thing OF lost honor.) This govern
ment deceived its own people first
about the imm ediatc causes Of III.
war. then about the historical causes
of the war. and then most vehcmcntly
about the character and intentions OF
the allies opposed to Germany.
AN UNFORTUNATE LIE
BELIEVED ny PEOPLE
Is there Il doubt anywhere that the
German rulers Will lie. in any manner
whatsoever. If they believe the lie will
result to their own advantage? Then
take one lie with which they have
filled Germany: That the President of
the United states and the American
Congress. with the American people be-
hind them. declared the United States
to he in a state OF war with the Ger
man empire because the American mu-
milton makers wanted to make more
money. and J. p. Morgan was afraid OF
the depreciation of his loans TO Eng
land
There are two significant things
about this lie. One is the state of mind
of the German politician who puts
it forth. and the other is the state of
mind of the unfortunate German sub
ject who believes II. The politician
must necessarily count on an abysinai
ignorance as well as n loyal credulity
in the subject; and the politician who
uses such lies is of a type we know
in our own country. in certain lower
forms OF slum- precinct manipulatior
But in Germany this type--bcttcr cdu-
Gated. incomparably more. powerful
hut nevertheless the moral twin OF one
of our corrupt precinct committeeman
Of the slums--is in actual high control
of the German destiny and has as it's
obedient machine, not ward heelcrs
from the barred houses. but the most
terrible army known In history. And
IL the German spirit truly manifests
itself through such an agency. it is a
spirit so sinister and of such mighty
i'll omen to us that we must either ex-
orClSe 1t by niSh explosives or be its
slaves For this Is the voice that we
hear from Germany:
1--WE Germans" it trumpets. "wc are
Gods chosen people. His special favor
ties. and God is German Himself. God
rules over us i'm the person of our
Kaiser. whom He appointed for that
purpose. We are better than all other
people of the earth; we are wiser and
purer and nobler and more industrious
and more learned and stronger and
cleverer and kinder and drawer ana
more spiritual and more warlikc than
all others.
I'VE arc so much greater than they
that whatever we do to advance our
own interests at the cost of theirs is
right and praiseworthy. If we Kill /,
great many of them, those who sur
rive wilt III the end he improved. ie-
cause they will work for us and learn
by observing us. Any de-
ceit is proper and morally correct e
1t benefits us: and when we practice
4 policy of terror upon those who OPP.