The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-09
HUNS MUST RESTORE
FRENCH DEMAND OF REPAIR
ALTON FOR DEVASTATION
OF THE NATION.
Justice Would Be Mocked, Says
Henri Lavedan, Were There Not
y Proper Restitution for the De-
struction of Property in France.

flSUll LdVcudn, were mere MOT
Proper Restitution for the De-
struction of Property in France.
Henri Lavedan, in the French pa
per, ILLUSION, has plan by which
punishment for Germany may be
combined with an attempt to save
the remaining French villages that
are in the path OF the certain re-
treat OF the Hun. \ view expressed
from the standpoint OF the nation
which has had to endure so much
OF the wars misery bears a greater
weight than any other opinions. The
article, in part follows:
We have said that we should re-
member the crimes OF the Germans :;
and we have the certain knowledge
that no one OF MS would ever know
how to forget them, unless we would
renounce all feeling and intelligence,
Deaths, all the deaths, would not
permit it; they would return, day
and night. to refresh our memory
and to reproach in bloody terms our
iorgetfulnesS.
SO then we will, remember. And
always.
But this memory. is it enough? ?
No; another duty remains-that
OF punishment.
The idea that victory final and to-
tai oi which we are today assured,
could according to our ideas OF the
complete antonements to which we
are entitled, leave unpunished these
atrocities OF the barbarian which
have outdistanced and made pale
all imaginable horrors, is not admiS-
,ible for an instant.
The idea is shocking. Our peace,
even ii magnificent, would be de-
formity il the criminals found the
means. by some sort OF final maneu-
yer and elastic twist, to escape at
the last reckoning the punishment
/ that claims them.
Retribution Part of Victory.
Retribution should be part OF our
victory. To exact it we have no need
to invoke vengeance. we nave
better way. We hear the heart
reuding cry OF all the innocent VIC
tins. the cry OF men and OF stones,
/ 1t has the irresistible accent OF post
humous adiuration and high com
mand. 1t is the extremity OF plead
ing and OF reproach. 1t is intoier-
able. And lastly, we understand
that outside the point OF view OF
sentiment, punishment is necessary
because reason, logic, the lmmut-
able connection between acts ana
their consequences, the law OF hu-
man responsibility commands 1t; be-
cause above all it is moral eNigence
relief for which conscience thlrsts.
Is Justice only an allcgory a statue
for purely decorative purposes NO;
Justice is a power, thoughtful ana
active. When her hour sounds, she
frees herself from her marble char
where long time seated, she has
meditAted her decree and raising,
She too, a sword which is not a
weapon for the parade ground She
Strikes.her great eyes open.
The soil OF Germany is still pleas
ant to walk upon, untoched by any
harm. The fields. the woods the
valleys. the forests OF these lovers
OF nature have lost nothing OF their
charm and their freshness. All the
trees OF this incredible country have
their branches and all the towns
have preserved their streets and
their fountains. In the museums, IN
the castles. the pictures, the tapes
tries.. the statuary. the collections
have not been broken, defaced or
stolen. Thus, Germany waits, I'M
patient. without doubt, and op-
pressed the end OF her misfortunes'
but consolng herself for the mo
ment in her loss OF morale, with
this selfish thought:
"All the same, we have not sui
Tered at our homes, in our farms
in our beautiful cities, in our gar
dens. in our houses, our chambers
our cherished interiors, nor IN our
persons. in our liberty. I'VE have
never had the great fear. All the
abomination OF blood and OF fire,
OF which we are wrongtully ac-
cused and which are inevitable. alas
1t is war! All that. by the grace OF
God. has happened far away, TAR
outside OF our strong frontiers, at
the home of the enemy; on the SOIL
of devastated France. What good
fortune. what lucky chance! When
one reflects that this could have hap
pened in our land, ah, that could
make one shudder and grit the
teeth Here on the exterior at least, /
nothing will be changed later on.
Perhaps after the war we may be
able on some days, when beer and
sausages have returned. not to no
tice TO any extent that it has taken
place" Il
But do YOU think that we would |
initiate them? We will be, in our /
manner. ingenious and original. The
means are simple. /
An Eye For an Eye
Who could fail to decide, leaving .
out OF consideration the general rep
arations already due. that, beginning
TODAY. all the towns and regions de
vastated by the enemy in his retreat
shall be restored after the war to
49, r..-i,.o-e frop, = like !