Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-01
QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
The Menace Of A
German Middle-Europe
1rrom M,nneapolis Journal.)

- T. IO0I 07 49,
The president has the discerning
mind, strategically speaking. ne soiu
the Federation of Labor in BuIaio
that Belgium, Alsace and Northern
France were matters of moment, u
that German control from. the Bal.
kans to Bagdad spelled the slavery OF
the world.
a middle-Europe stretching into
Asia as far as Mesopotamia, or to the
Persian gulf, is incompatible with the
freedom Of the world and the safety OF
democfacies. To war concerning the
disposal Of Macedonia and Asia Minor
seems q far distant purpose Tor the
United States But in these days what
is distance? In these days we have con-
ceived of a hostile Asiatic power as q
possible menace In these days q MD
dle-Europe, consolidated and am
bilious, would constitute a menace
more immediate than any the United
States has ever encountered.
Tho declaration Of the president in
dicates that he will not lose sight OF
the true objective, which Is to deprive
Germany of power to adventure again
m~ischieviously against the peace and
freedom of mankind. Should Germany
offer the release of Belgium, the vac
I~uation of France, the recession of AL
SAGE, we shall be deceived If we accept
her brides and allow her to retain SUI,
premacy in the Balkans and Turkey.
The president shows that he is alive
to this truth. and will not be content
with what would amount to q tenn
porary REIMBURSEMENT by Germany Of
her western conquests.
, II the president INDUCES in any fall
lacy. 1t Is in his willingness to credit
the German people, as apart from
their government, with disposition to
adopt the principles of self-govern-
ment and Of international responsible
ity. It might be possible for the Ger
man people to effect a political reVo-
luton at home and still retain the,
Prussian administrative system, just
as the French republic retains the
Napoleonic administration. It might
result that the German people, all
though exercising a greater share in
their government, would still operate
under the tremendous unifying ad!
vantages Of the Prussian system, and
would sill be animated by the same
ambition and fanaticism Of kultur.
because of which Europe TODAY Is a
shambies,
|. More will be required than a polit-
ical change IN Germany. A spiritual
Transformation must be wrought in
Germans. Either that, or W tx do
mischief and to work woe must he
taken from Germans.
colonel Roosevelt considers the evi.
dence conclusive that the German
people n government are as one in
TINS war in the policy Of frightfulness.
~ the determination to dominate Eu-
o and to be avenged upon America.
Colonel Roosevelt, for ali his heat II
nard-headed. and usually his insipht
Is true: 10 rely upon any sentimenfaI.l
ism which the Germans in distra.s
might display. would be fatuous- Ths
security we require must be real.
"A nation that abuses the great now.
or with which 1t has been endowed !.
NOT nation to trust. When il is nnca
sotten down, 1t must not he III ~,
asaan until Its power for evil has h.sp
AIKEN away. Few nations have 49,
sessed any sue power AZ Gar, pos
Maaa mulated between 1871 and is1l.
tronta ~ history has made such as
rocouSIy tremendous use Of s,,ch
p1o aye as a Germany since Aus1,st
Ut. In order to restrain her hanna,
III she must be confined etrictlv -
what ls her own Or. in cona. ~,
tel3ns. she must be barred frnn, ~
na a.. from the Adriatic. and sho
N Nus relinquish Belgium 49,
ss :" France, Pola1d. s,cha 1870
rs a occupies in Russ,a :" = Z A
n.s s portion Of Schleswie- Eyni.tsin
Otnerwise. the United sta aasteln.
more than her Immediate nadssya. no
Will be secure. AelEnD0rH,f