The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-06-13
COMPROMISE NOT
POSSIBLE HE SAYS
Secretary Lansing Reiterates
, America Cannot Be Satisfied
With Anything Less
Than Victory.

Schenectady, n. Y, June 10.-"Prus-
sianism and the idea Of enduring peace
cmong nations car never be brought
into harmony; compromise cannot even
be considered" Robert Lansing, secre-
tary Of SAate, declared here today in an
address rs honorary chancellor Of
Union college for 1918. Instance after
instance from his own experience at
the head of Americas foreign office
were cited to prove his point, because.
no asserted, americans, even those in
tellcctually equipped, nave but vague
ideas of the attitude which made Prus-
sianisfn possible.
1T is a fact not generally known said
Secretary Lansing, that within six
weeks after the imperial government
had, in the case OF the Sussex, given
This government its solemn promise
that 1t would cease ruthless slaughter
upon the high seas Count Bernstorff,
approaching the worthlessness of the
promise, asked the Berlin foreign office
to advise him in ample time before the
campaign OF submarine murder was re-
newed, in order that he might notify the
German merchant ships In American
ports to destroy their machinery, be-
cause he anticipated that the renewal
Of that method Of warfare would, in all
probability, bring the United States into
the war.
How well tho ambassador knew the
character OF his government and how
perfectly frank lie wasi He asked
for the information without apology
or indircction. The very biuntness of
his message shows he was sure his
supcr!ors would not AXE offense at
the assumption that their word was
valucless and had only been given to
gain time and that when an increase
of Germany's submarine fleet war;
ranted, the promise would be broken
without hesitation or compunction.
What q commentary on Bernstorffs
estimate Of the sense Of honor and
good faith or his government! a
in view OF this spirit of hypocrisy
and bad faith, manifcsting an entire
lack Of conscience, we ought not to be
astCnished that the Berlin foreign Of
flee never permitted q promise or a
treaty engagement to stand in the way
of q course Of action which the Ger
man government deemed e~Xpedient. l
need not cite as proof Of this fact the
flagrant violations of the treaty neut-
rallzing Belgium and the recent treaty
OF Brest-Litovsk. This d~iscreditable
characteristic Of German foreign policy
was accepted by German diplomats as
O. matter Of course and as O natural,
If not n praisewort!:y method of DEAL
ing with governments.
said, were simply the German desire
for world dominion.
THAT was and is the central thought
Of P~russianism'', he said. 1T excited the
cupidity OF The governing and wealthy
classes of the empire; 1t daZZled with
it's anticipated glories and by it's
promise OF q boasted racial superiority
the German millions who were to be
the instrument OF achievement. With
q devotion u zeal worthy of q bet
ter cause they turned their energy in.
to those channels, which would aid the,
ruling class.
1--WE must so on with tho war. There
is no other way. This task must not
be left half done. We must not trans
init to postcrity a legacy of blood and
misery. We may in this great con-
fiict go down into the valley of shad-
ows, because our foe is powerful and
Injured TO war. We must be prepared
10 meet disappointment and temper
airy reverses, but we must with Amer
lean spirit rise above them; with cour-
ageous hearts we must go foreward
until tha war is won."