New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
The German Way


mind operates, finer illustration of the
German method which is steadily uniting
the whole civilized world against the leu
ton, than is disclosed in the Mexican
manipulations of zimmerman. At one
time it is possible to perceive why Europe
will make no peace with Germany, as Ger
many is directed to-day, and why we must,
sooner or later, join Europe in the task Of
saving the civilized world from German
barbarism.
Stripped of all detail, the fact is that the
German government resolved to return to
an illegal policy which involved the muir
der of American citizens and the destruc-
ton of American property. Such being
the case, the German government recog-
nized that the American nation might not
submit TO this murder. Hence the appeal
to the Mexican and the japanese to attack
us and TO wrest from us American terri
tory as reward for attack. Finally comes
the disclosure of the plot and the indlg-
nant German assertion of American
"treachery," treachery in finding out and
publishing the fact that Germany had
planned to turn Japan and Mexico against
us if we resisted German murder on the
high seas.
Now. it ought to be recalled that this
was exactly the German method in Bel
GUM. The Germans desired to go through
Belgium to attack France. Conceiving
A. Dzlo- ,rrbA cf o.
pared to carry into Belgium policy of
fire and sword, and when Belgium did re-
sist they murdered women and children
and destroyed cities, coolly calculating
that such policy would paralyze Belgian
courage and destroy Belgian resistance.
Having done all this, the Germans were
shocked on arriving at Brussels to dis
cover proof of Belgian "treachery," which
amounted to proof that Belgium had en-
tertained offers from France and Britain
for aid in case Of German invasion.
Again it should be recalled that one Of
the chief indictments of the Allies by the
German press and professors, by the
Kaiser himself, has been that they have
allied themselves with the yellow against
the white and with the Asiatic against the
European. What tons Of protest, what
volumes of denunciation, what oceans of
passionate rubbish have not German edi-
tors, statesmen and scholars turned loose
in the world on this point But now, on
the chance that Americans may not pa
tiently submit to German murder. Ger
many coolly invites the japanese, thC
Asiatic, TO attack a nation with which il
is at peace.
In a single incident there is summed W
the whole of modern German morality anC
political policy There is no right but
German right, and this right is absolute
Murder is not murder when it serves {
German purpose, but high duty, noble
deed. There is no faith, there is no in
ternational honor, there is nothing, wher
Germany is served by the repeal of cove
nants, by the Transformation of The
pledged word into "scrap Of paper"
Our single offence in the German eyes
is that we have rights, that we have right!
which are likely to interfere with German
intentions. The sole offence Of the Bel
gian was that his land lay between the
German and the French and he was re
solved that the German should not pas:
by his fields TO DO violence and commit
crime in the French fields. Hence Bel
GUM was murdered as a nation, and Bel
gian women and children, cities and towns
were destroyed. Not alone were they de
stroyed, but in the blood and ashes Ger
many saw the manifestation Of Divine ap
proval Of German will.
And with US it has been the same. Our
women and children on the Lustana dice
because they came between Germany anC
her British target. They had no right t.
live under the German code, and theil
death was an altogether good and beauti
full thing celebrated in German cities, be
cause it contributed 10 German gain. AnC
now, when new murders are 70 be achieved
war must be loosed against US from oui
neighbors that we may not interfere will
German purposes.
How long is it TO be yet before Amer
cans will understand this German idea
How long will il be before Americans per
ceiye that there is no possibility Of peace
in the world, no possibility Of peace fo
their own country, 50 long as any natior
continues 10 practise in the world tn
doctrines which the German practises? w
cannot permanently refrain from dealing
with a tiger at our door. We cannot for
ever submit 10 the outrages Of peopl'
which calmly announces It's right God
given and the mark Of especial favor from
God, 10 murder neutral and non-comba
tant alike whenever IL chooses, 10 outrage
women and STAY children 70 the greater
glory of<ernany.
Recall the hypocritIcal words Of German