Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-13

Germans were duped by the lies I'm
vented by their leaders and really be-
heved they were carrying on a war of
defense. After the collapse of Russia,
which more than doubled Germany's
military strength in the west. this fc-
ton could no longer ne upheld, not
even by such an astute and unscrupu.
Ious statesman as Count Hertling. a
certain amount OF popular opposition
against the continuation of the war
became apparent i'm Germany after the
conclusion of peace with Russia and
huinania; it eliminated in the recent
great strike movement. But the Prus.
sian military leaders and their political
accomplices have not only triumphant.
~ overcome this opposition against a
new debauch of blood and brutality nv
arbitrary measures, but have succeed.
ed III corrupting the entire German
people by assurances Of a smashing
victory and the promise of speedy
peace with annexations and vast in
demhities. Introducing an era Of un.
precedented property and high living
Tor all classes of society in Germany
after the terrible privations and misery
OF the war.
And the Germans, drowning all
doubts and pangs o, conscience which
years of disappOintments and suffering
i1ad finally awakened within them I'm
Inc brutal expectation of overwhclrn-
ing their opponents by sheer force OF
numbers. have followed Ludendorff's
lead like herd Of rapacious slaves
ana gone forth once more to slay and
devastate. driven by the lust of power
ana gain. II is this that makes us
despair of the German peOpIe."
Speaks From knowledge
No Englishman nor FrenChman
have I ever known to arraign Ger.
many more mercilessly than this Ger.
man who was once krupp Won
h"lllen'S riGht-hand man. And yet.
+ cllaitlnS with him in his artisticallN
furnished library. decorated with
paintings by famous modern artists
while the fate of Europe hung in the
balance on the battlefelds of France.
ieIt that he must be right and able
10 sound darker depths in the Teuton
soul than any other foreigner. how.
ever well acquainted with German
conditions.
. Ihe GermanS-ala" that ] should
be forced to say it who am a German
myself. are different from all other
nations" Herr Muehlon continued.
They are really race apart from
ind
Stincts thev originally possessed and
which were generally recognized a
hundred and even fifty years ago. have
been Systematically perverted by
I their rulers. The Prussian system of
government has gradually trans
formed what was once the "natiOn of
poets and phiiosoDhers" into a race of
the basesi materiaIists the world has
ever seem. Materialism and cowardly
submission to their rulers had be.
come the dominant traits OF the Ger.
mans long before the war And the
war. which has enabled the Prussian
military and bureaucratic machine to
suppress even the last remaining YES.
tiges of individual liberty in Germany
has intensified these evil character
istics tenfold. There Is no difference
in this respect between the financial
magnate and the worklngman.
While in Germany | made no Sc
cret of my opinions in private conve-
sation. and many of my business
friends. all men in influential posi-
tions, heartily indorsed them. but
when | asked them to suit the actor
to the word and to proclaim openly
, with me that the German Govern
ment was alone responsible for the
war they shrank back in fear ant
said. 1t is none of cur business. We
cannot risk offending the authorities
Besides. we are making more money
through the war than we ever
dreamed of making before
Take a man like Herr Ballin. the
director of the Hamburg American
Line. He was a good personal frienC
of mine. ! have had many talks witt
him about the war and he always eX
pressed perfectly sensible ideas. Bu
| could never induce him to act up tr
them. His great fear was to lose the
Kaiser's favor. An autograph letter
from the Kaiser makes him fairly
burst with pride and he fears that Il
he should write or say anything a
[ variance with the orthodox Prussiar
wBr doctrine the Kaiser would moi
write him any more letters to show
70 his friends. With the wcrkingmer
it j. the same. A miserable media
or decoration for faithful service,
converts him in a trice from socialism
10 mOnarchism, and the prospect q
higher wages. better food and feweI
taxes reconciles him with the ides
Of new frightful offensives, annexa
tions and war indemnities
Teutons Cannot Stand Defeat
Success or the conviction of sue
cess rOuses all the brutal appetite
which militarism has for years sci
entifically bred i'm the German people
Only reverses of fortune can driv,
this poison out of their system. An,
the Germans are different in this alsC
, from the western nations. They can
: not bear defeat nor long endure tn
same horrors of war they gleefuIl,
bring upon others. Berlin would hav,
cried for mercy long ago If il ha,
been bombed as rUthlessly as Par
and London.
"NO, the Germans will not stan
much beating. They are bullies an,
+ will give in surprisingly soon once tn
fortune OF war turns against them. I
the German people can he made to un
derstand that attacks like the presen
! offensive of France will not brinl
; them wealth. power and prosperity
but, on the contrary, more misery
heavier taxes and commercial ostra
cism even after the war, they vii
r refuse to fight on any longer Blu
their mind Is open only to material
; istic arguments and all idealistic an
pealS to their conscience and sense O
honor are absolutely vain. 1t is pain
I full for me 10 have TO say this of m