Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30
When Germany Faces Defeat

few more blows like that he is now Keeling
under and the Hun will be whining for truce,
His heart will be as far as ever from just and
stable peace but he will scheme craftily for quit
lance The yellow streak that runs side by side
with his bruitshness will cry out for escape from
the grim game that is going inexorably against
him. He could no more stand what the French and
the English have stood than he could emulate
French chivalry English honor. 1t is sometimes
said that the Allies will have their most trying
task after they have driven the Hun across his
borders and to grips with him on his own
soil. There, according to this opinion, he will
fight his hardest and with iron resolution. But
that is out of keeping with the brutal, bullying
character that he is 1t is far more likely that
once dislodged from France and Belgium, once
faced with the certainty of defeat he will lose mis-
turbulence and show his heels. Certainly he Will
do his utmost by hook and crook to turn justice
awry and to transfer the final decision from the
battlefield to treacherous conference He VIII
adopt a tone of Cancellation. He may offer SEEM
ingly important recessions. He will win over the
pacifists and deceive the simple. But he Will not
get a moments hearing from any thoughtful friend
of mankind until he is prone in the dust con-
ouered criminal with the Allied bayonet at his
throat.
We cannot deal with Hohenzollern Germany
place no confidence in any proposals or promises
that may come from Potsdam and Berlin. The
German rulers have demonstrated repeatedly that
they are sheer cutthroats, bent upon pillage and
brigandish power recognizing law above their
lust for dominion, acknowledging no right but that
of brutal might. And the German people have
proved themselves in complete accord Win tnese
rulers. How tragically foolish then, it would be
for the Allies enter into sort of negotiation
with their enemy-the enemy of the whole Tree
dom-loving law-abiding world-until they have
stripped him of his power to harm! Too many
thousands and tens of thousands of heroic hearts
have poured out their life in this struggle for
humanity and civilization too many sublime sacri-
fees have been made, too many noble principles
are to be indicated, too many rights and homes
are to be safeguarded, for us ever to turn this
righteous crusade into a wordy debate with the
Prussian butchers. There will be divers pleas, no
doubt from the wriggling pacifists and now quies-
cent pro-Germans in midst when the Hun be-
gins to whine for peace. They will pirate of toler-
ance and humaneness and mercy and all other vir-
tues which Prussianism despises and has tried to
stamp out of the world. We have greater need to
guard against those Numbering and hypocritical
appeals than against German military power, for II
we needed them and stepped into the trap Of
Hohenzolern peace conference, then indeed would
our cause be defeated and dishonored.
If we would show mercy to the German people
we first must crush their foul militarism; and if
we would show any measure of justice to our own
peoples and to mankind must destroy the ruth
less power which elsewise will destroy civilization
Tolerance ceases to be virtue and becomes a
crime when it winks at murderers and consents to
negotiate with thieves. We dare not as we prize
honor and true peace, tolerate the Germany that
launched this frfghtful raid civilization and that
will launch another in the years ahead If she is eft
the chance 1t is utterly meaningless to talk OF for
giveness for an outlaw who stands red-handed and
unrepentant grasping his booty and inwardly plan
ming his next crime. Just such an outlaw is Ger
many Her leaders are brazenly committed to
scheme of world conquest and proclaiming
their purpose "to punish America" if not in the
present war then in one soon to follow. 1t is but
recently that Won Freytag, of the German General
Staff published book to emphasize the idea that
Germany would never hear to reconciliation, but
would make any peace short of her complete vic
tory a mere interude of preparation for greater
war to come To the same purport General Won
Liebert declares: I'VE hold that might is right.
We will incorporate Courland and bring into our
own population sixty million Russians. We must
have Belgium and the north of France France
must be made to pay until she is bled white"
And the Kaiser himself has vowed that the United
States shall pay the extreme of Prussian punish
ment This tone will change when the Hun finds
himself facing defeat. But his meaning and his
purpose will not change. He will be the i'm
placable foe of humanity and civilization until he
is beaten and stripped of power.