The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-05-23
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
False Conception Of Liberty.

In nv last | referred to this SUBJECT
and now | wish to consider it a little.
1t is very important. 1t is so easy to
hide behind this plea when we want to
carry out our own plans regardless of
the rights to others. Personal liberty
is a great boon, but it always does and
must have respect for the liberty OF
others. The saloon claims the right to
carry on its work regardless of the evil
and loss it entails on the family, the
community or the state. 1t claims the
right to ruin the masses, enslave the
poor, 'debauch the home, lmpoverlsh
the state and dam its victims for all
eternity. Why not! doesn't it pay a
license for the privilege and what right
has anyone to question its doings.
The trouble is it mistakes liberty for
license. Tn. Kaiser wants to establish
a world dominion TO crafty his ambi-
ton. To do this he claims the Divine
right of Kings, that he and God are in
sort of partnership, that his race is
chosen of God to do this; that other ma
tons are wholly unfit and incapable of
self or world rule. To do this he can
plunge the world into the horrors OF
war; revel in untold sutferings of his
fellow mortals; swim IN the blood of
his fellow men. Yet sure to keep in a
perfectly safe place himself and rejoice
in want0n destruction of property and
life, especially If it Is inflicted on his
enemies, at the same time audaciously,
presumptuously and sacriligiously claim
it is the will of God, it is his divine
right. To his ear the wall of drowning
women and children and the cries Of
men as they go down with the wrecked
Lusatiania is music. He can find satls-
faction in the destruction of commerce,
flood the world with his diabolical propa-
ganda, defy the governments of the
world but his end will be destruction,
He can send outs his spies who are
traitors of the meanest type, traitors
who would delight in the destruction OF
all We hold pure and good, would muir
der our boys degrade womanhood, en-
slaven ur children, in short stop at
nothing to secure their ends.
That's what it means, and all this IN
der the plea of liberty. Its the devils
plea and his personal liberty. The
government, recognizing the rights CT
its people says it is our liberty anl
privilege and duty to defend ourselves
against such scorpions, hyena and he
hounds as these who try to stir up sedi-
ton and destroy the government. But
what can you expect from govern
ment that for generation or more has
been craming the minds of its subjects
with instructions, samples of which
will now give you. THE German people
must rise as master folk above the
inferior people of Europe and the pri
mltive peoples of the colonies. | car
give the name of the work, the page
aIlu duIHOI 1OI "Adl quOIC bUI u
save space l will simply quote the
words)
1.-The proud conviction forces its sell
upon US with irresistible power that {
high, if not the highest Importance fol
the entire development of the human
race is ascribable to this German
people"
The German is hero born, and be
lieves that he can hack and hew his
way through life. -
SIN our German people, peaceful dis
positions and warlike prowess are 81
happily mixed that IN this respect nj
other people on earth can rival US, ant
none seems so clearly predestined t.
light humanity on the way to true pro
gress."
Germany is the future of humanity.
I'VE must vanquish, because tn,
downfall of Germsnism would mean tn,
downfall of humanity"
Germany is precisely-who woul,
venture to deny 1.-THE representative
of the highest morality, of the pures
humanity, of the most chastened Chris
tianity. He, therefore, who fights TO
its maintenance, its victory, fights TO
the highest blessings of humanity it
self. and for human progress. Its de
feat, its decline, would mean a fallin,
back to the worst barbarlsm. How
does that strike you?
"Germany's fight against the Who'll
world is in reality the battle of tn
spirit against the whole worlds infamy