The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-11-07
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Editorial Pages
THE TRUTH or THE FLAG DAY
ADnRlgSS


those who still believe that the arraign-
ment Of Germany in the presidents
Flag day address was too severe, they
will find ample confirmation OF Us truth
in the annotated edition Of the address
which the committee on public infor-
nation has given out 1T Is plain
enough" the president said, "how we
were forced into the war" and those
who do not see can hardly he acquitted
If willful blindness There Is chapter
and verse for every statement. Thus
the evidence that men connected with
the German embassy planted spies
among us and even sought TO destroy
our industries and commerce Is beyond
DISPUTE: the recent revelations Of the
state department alone would prove
that. even II the facts had not been
reported at the time by the newspapers.
Bombs were placed on ships, strikes
were fomented, American citizens were
corrupted by German money, our rights
on the high seas were "lmpudenty
denied" These may be Technical
rights from the la Toilette point of
view. but the German official efiront-
cry" which proposed 20 spare from sink
ing one American ship week from
an American 10 British port. II II
took a prescribed course and was mark
ed like "A zebra, naturally stirred deep
resentment at the time and may well
be recalled now. Had we assented 10
sush conditions we should have sold
our birthright Of freedom for mess
OF pottage.
The injuries directly inflicted upon
us, however. are only half the story.
Those who would have had us ignore
them, who argued that anything was
better than war; failed to realize the
greater menace of the German plan for
world dominion. Many or them still
try to divide the responsibility for the
war. still accept the German plea of
self-defense, still doubt the accuracy
of the presidents analysis of the de-
signs of the Pan.Germanists. Yet the
purpose to force other nations to their
will has long been avowed. Germany
would have invaded Holland or Den
mark as readily as Belgium, had 1t
suited her purpose The recently pub
lished correspondence of Willy" and
"Nicky" is quoted in proof of that.
There is excerpt after excerpt from well
known German writers TO show how an
insane ambition had penetrated the
mind of all the people. The doctrine
of might was preached on every hand.
international law, in the words of one.
is nothing less than reckoning on
our good.natured stupidity" THE Ger
man people are right" said Tannenberg
because they number S7,OOO,OOO souls.
Our fathers have left us much TO do
lust as Prussia is the nucleus of Ger
many, so Germany is to be the nu-
cleus of an empire of the west, The
mastery of Europe = that was the
dream.
Nun. Deutsches Volk, Wrist du Eu-
ropa's Meister,
such was the prediction of German
poet. The whole national ambition was
headed in this direction. The blunt as
sertions of the kaiser and his military
advisers are reflected in the utterances
of men Of business, or professors. even
of theologians. None can read this
evidence of it and fail to be convinced.
The president has overstated nothing.
The Mittel-Europa scheme was open
and manifest. 1T rejected the idea of
solidarity Of race entirely" 1t rested
upon the forcible subjection Of unwill-
ne peoples
How nearly it has been carried out
the map Of Europe shows. Is 1t con
ceivable that the United States should
have failed TO appreciate the maSni-
tude Of the peril. should have stood
Idly by while the allies were lighting
To preserve civilization, should have
put its own security 20 the hazard OF
their defeat2 There is not line in
this Flag day address to which the
facts do not bear eloquent testimony