Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-17
PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE

Ltthuania, in addition to the priv
lege Of being torn from the side OF
helpless Russia and permitted to sci
up mock government under the di
rection and dictation of Germany, is
to have. an added boon. Kaiser Will
helm has announced that the Lithu
anians will be expected to share Ger
many's financial burdens incident tc
the war.
No doubt the same munificence will
be shown to the neighboring states
along the Russian border, and no doubt
their people will be allowed to dor
German, gray and go forth to battle
and be killed for the glory Of the
Hohenzollerns and kultur.
This is the result of the liberation
of these former segments of Russian
territory from the bolsheviM. Ger
many, the kaiser points out in his proc:
lamation. has freed Lfthuania: so OF
course Lithuania will prove her graft
tude to her deliverer by signing up a
first mortgage on the soul and goods
OF every Lithuanian. for the present
generation and through the cycles OF
all the future.
The strange logic of the Hohenzol.
1ern mind-or perhaps It is degree OF
humor to which the ordinary mental
processes cannot attain-couples with
the decree Of Lfthuania's serfdom the
declaration that Lithuania is an indie
pendent state, "allied with the German
empire"
The independence Of Lithuania Is
similar to the independence Of Poland,
the Ukraine, Rumania and Austria.
Hungary itself Within the week the
Austrian emperor has been compelled
to journey to the German army head.
quarters, there to don sackcloth and
tangle ashes In his hair. make obeis-
ance to Wilhelm of Hohenzollern and
humbly beg his pardon for having
written that note to Prince Sixtus in
which was the terrible anti German
admission that AlsaceLorraine should
be given back to France.
II there had been any doubt as to
Austria's subservience to Germany 1t
would disappear in the light of the
official and public admissions by the
Austrian ruler that his dual govern
ment is committed to all the aims for
which Germany Is waging war. Aus
trfan newspapers are rebuking the
leaders Of the anti-German movement
and reminding them in blunt language
that Austria-Hungary must do the bid
ding Of Germany voluntarily or lose
her identity as nation and govern
ment
Having gobbled up the borders of
Russia and permitted Turkey to
spread terror and death in the south
ern provinces, Germany now notifies
the hapless bolsheviki that they must
surrender Moscow and the other large
cities, disarm their few remaining re E.
iments and complete the delivery OF
Russia into the kaiser's blood-smeared
hands.
And all these things, like the ruin
of Belgium and the wanton destruction
of northern France, are part and par
eel of Germany's war of defense IN
which, according to the story the Ger
man government tells its credulous
subjects. the kaiser is engaged to
thwart the Vaccinations Of league OF
enemy nations bent on the overthrow
Of his throne and the destruction Of
the German race.
A year or more ago, Conan Doyle
wrote that after the war there will be
In the world two races, the human race
and the German race. At that time his
declaration seemed to mark the height
of harshness and partisan hatred. AS
one pondefs the array Of crimes which
Germany has committed against hu.
mainly and civilization and considers
the effrontery the kaiser displays In
asking self.nspecting governments to
believe his prptestations of honesty,
the Englishman's opinion seems less
extravagant than It did year ago.