Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-28
German Peace Proposals.

Almost daily disclosures of Hohenzollern
perfdy show how foolishy hazardous it would be
to make a peace that would be dependent on the
present German Government. Compacts mean
nothing unless they are backed by moral RESPONSE
bility, and that is something of which Germany's
rulers are utterly devoid They have played false
with every nation whom they have dealt with, even
those with whom they allied. We are not
referring to the trickily selfish way in which
Germany has used her vassals, Turkey and Bulga-
ria and Austria, but to the recently revealed plots
which she brewing against Italy while that
country still member of the Triple Alliance
Italy thrust into the Triple Alliance
through Bismarck's crooked diplomacy, at time
when her national weakness required an under
standing with her powerful and INSCRIPTIONS leu
ton neighbors The coalition was contrary to her
peoples sentiment and to her interest and ideals
Nevertheless she faithfully observed all of its obli-
cations until she released, morally and legally,
by the war of aggression which Germany and Aus
tria launched in 1914. But while Italy was keeping
her part of the compact what were the Kaiser and
his ring of intriguers doing? For thing, they
were discussing a scheme to invade Italy and seize
Venice and Milan. How far the perfdious project
went has not been disclosed; but that it seri-
ously considered by the German and Austrian mil
itarists is testified by unimpeachable authority.
Further, while Italy was living up to her ILL
sorted alliance the powers that professed to be her
friends were under-handedly exploiting her COM
merce and resources for their selfish, political adj
vantage, they have done in every other part of
the world where they have secured a foothold, not
ably in Latin America. They were not content with
doing business, as the French English or Ameri-
cans would conduct foreign enterprises, in
straightforward way and for the common interests
of all concerned. Far from it. The German idea
of business with Italy to dominate and domi-
and to make commercial power a basis for po-
litical tyranny. That has been and still is the
German attitude toward all countries and
toward all questions of international life. The
Hohenzollern mind, now the governing mind of
Germany, is utterly lacking in ideas of reciprocity
and fair play. OF the generous principles of live
and-let-live, it knows nothing. Its ngrained and
ineradicable policy is to rule or ruin.
This avarice and insolence become doubly dan
gerous because of the duplicy that goes with them.
There is intrigue too low, no treachery too base
for the German Government. AS it conspired
against Italy while it was bound to her under
the Triple Alliance, it conspired against the
United States even while it processing friend
ship for the American people and promising that
no more American lives should be wantony de-
stroyed by U-boats; and it will continue to con-
spire against the worlds freedom and concord so
long it's criminal power remains There is only
one way of dealing with a snake: there is only one
way of dealing with Hohenzollern Germany. Every
one knows that the Kaiser wants to patch up
peace, now that he retrbutive justice closing
upon him. But everyone, except the rankest pro-
Germans, knows, too, that the Kaiser's pledges
would amount merely to a scrap of paper The
German people can have peace readily enough when
they offer reasonable guarantees of It's being kept
But with the perhdious and wholly criminal Ger
man Government self-respecting, freedom-loving
nations can have no dealings
A