The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-06-26

tives in Germany and too many good
neighbors and companions of German
stock in this country.
For jealousy of the achievements of
German science and scholarship? No.
too many Americans owe perhaps the
best part of their education to the Ger
man university system.
For the destruction Of German music
and poetry? No. too many of us as
children were thrilled by the incom-
parable Kinderlieder, chorales and car
OILS Of the nation that gave birth TO
Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Robert
Franz Schuberth Goethe, Heine and
the brothers Grimm.
For the expulsion of the Germans
from the high seas? No. too many of
us remember joyous voyages across the
Atlantic through the Mediterranean or
among the islands of the Caribbean
under stalwart and kindly captains who
were as careful OF the efficiency OF their
crews and the safety and comfort of
their passengers as Papa" Joffre is OF
the skill and welfare of his poilus.
What. then. are we fighting for? Why
Is practically the entire civilized world
ar1ayed in arms or antipathy against
Germany?
For fifty years Germany has been the
greatest military power in Europe.
Originally created for defense her army
has been fostered and fashioned into a
supreme manifestation OF national pow
er. The most honorable designation of
the kaiser came to be not king, not mon
arch. not emperor, but Highest War
Lord" Civil authority. civil rights and
even civil prosperity have been sub
ordinated TO the growth and needs of
the army. The burden of army taxa
ton made new and greater sources Of
wealth imperative. Hence Germany
turned her eyes to Bagdad. Asia Minor.
MosopotamiO, China, Africa, and even
South America. She opposed the taking
of the Philippines by the United States
and showed her dislike Of our building
the Panama canal. since these two
achievements made us a possible OBJ
stacle to her plans of world domina.
tion.
A party OF Pan-Gormanists grew up.
They taught openly in books, in the
universities, and even in the German
parliament that Germany's destiny was
first TO dominate Europe and then from
that position OF European eminence.
surprising even the glories Of the Ro-
man Empire Of the Caesars. to influence
surrcmely. perhaps actually to direct,
the course OF world civilization.
While other nations were dreaming
OF peace and international arbitration,
the Pan-Germahists we're teaching their
young men that war is a biological
necessity" that "the will to power" Is
the greatest Of manly virtues, and that
the Creator Of the Universe intended
the strong to conquer and the weak
10 die" in order TO pronounce a race
perhaps a German race-of 'supermen.-
The motives OF the Pan-Germanists
were mixed. They were moved partly
b. the love Of military glory. partly by
the ambition for political power. partly
by desire for the great natural re-
sources out Of which riches are made.
They believed that they could mine,
manufacture, buy and sell-in a word
create wealth and WELD power better
than any other race. To do this on
grand scale they must have territory,
territory and yet more territory.
This meant a war OF conquest. But
the Psn-German leaders had no objec-
tion 10 wars OF conquest. On The con-
trary. like the old !sraelites-see the
Book OF Esther-or like Philip II Of
Spain-see Motley's Dutch Republic
they believed that conquest is manly,
noble, virtuous and approved by Coo.
II seems almost incredible that mod.
ern scientists and scholars should argue
in behalf OF bloody warfare like ms
dieyal kings. But such Is the fact in
Germany. DIR. Ostwald. distinguished
German university professor. winner Of
one Of the great Nobel prizes in chem
isiry. said In a public interview early
in the war that Germany was fifty
years ahead Of the rest OF the world
In culture and social organization and
II was her moral duty 10 give her high
er form Of civilization to Europe, Asia.
and. inferentially. 10 America-by force
II necessary. One OF the strangest doc.
uments OF the war Is a paper taking
this same view OF Germany's destiny
and. therefore. defending the rape os
Belgium. the shooting Of women, chill.
dten and non-combatants. and the COIL.
mission OF deeds which the rest OF the
world shudderingly regards as atroci-
ties This paper was written and sign.
ed by ninety-three German theologians.
philosophers and university professors.
The torpedoing of the Lusitania and
the drowning OF unwarned and innC-
cent women and children was haile,l
by the Pan.Germanists as a deed ot
bravery. and commemorated by the
striking and distribution OF a medal.
The German chancellor. a cultivated.
accomplished gentleman. excused the in.
yasion OF Belgium on the ground that
military necessity knows no law" and
that an international treaty Is really
nothing but "a scrap OF paper"
When at the end OF July. 1914. the 1
peace OF the world was threatened by
the controversy OF Austria and Servia
over the assassination OF the Austrian
archduke. the British government
through Sir Edward Grey. implored the
kaiser 20 sit at round table confer
ence and see II the dispute could not
be settled by International agreement
instead OF by war.
"No." said the kaiser. that would be
t..-..sl. 49,. ll...lt.. -. III.