Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-09
Long before the war I had come to

Il
look upon Prussianism as amongst
the deadliest poison growths that ever
sprang from the soil OF the spirit OF
| man.
When the war broke out in Europe.
when Belgium was invaded. search
ed my conscience and my Judgment In
sorrow and anguish, the powerful
voice OF blood arguing against the
still, small voice OF right.
And II became clear to me to the
point Of solemn and unshakable con-
riction that Prussianisn, In mad in
fatuation, had committed the crown
ing sin OF outraging and defying the
conscience Of the world and Of chal-
lenging right to mortal combat against
might. and that the cause which the
allies were defending was our cause,
because II was the cause OF peace, hu-
manity, justice and liberty.
There are some Of you, probably.
VINO will still find II hard to believe
that the Germany you knew can be
guilty OF the crimes which have made
II an outlaw amongst the nations. But
do youknow modern Germany? Un-
less you have been there within the
last twenty-five years, not once or
twice. but at regular intervals: unless
You have looked below the glittering
surface OF the marvellous material pro-
gress and achievement and seen how
the soul Of Germany was being eaten
away by the virulent poison Of Prus-
sianism: unless you have watched and
followed the appalling transformation
OF German mentality and morality un-
der the nefarious and puissant infiu-
ence OF the priesthood Of power wor-
ship. you do not know the Germany OF
this day and generation.
The Germany which brought upon
the world ths immeasurable disaster
OF this war, and at whose monstrous
deeds and doctrines the civilized ma
tions Of the earth stand aghast, start
ed into definite being less than thirty
years ago. l can almost lay my finger
upon the date and circumstances OF
it's ill-omened advent.
Less than thirty years ago q new
course" was flamboyantly proclaimed
by those In authority. and the term
new course" became the order OF the
day.
There came upon the German peo-
pie whole train Of new and baneful
influences and impulses. formidably
stimulating az powerful drug. There
came. amongst other evils, material
ism and covetousness and irreligion;
over-weening arrogance. an impatient
contempt for the rights Of the weak,
mania for world domination, and a
veritable lunacy of power worship.
There came also a fixed and Irrational
distrust of the intentions Of other ma
tions, for the evil which had crept into
their own souls made them see evil In
others, and that distrust was nurtured
carefully and deliberately by those In
authority.
And. finally. there came the day"
in which thu .nsx- -aeslss0v:.
inevitably. was bound to culminate.
There came the old temptation. as old
as humanity itself. The tempter took
the Prussian and Prussianized rulers
up high mountain and showed them
all the riches and power OF the world.
Showed them the great countries and
capitals of the earth teeming with
peaceful labor-Brussels, Paris, Lon
don, aye, and New York, and told
them: Look at these. Use your
power ruthlessly and they are yours"
And those rulers did not say: Get
thee behind me, Satan," but they
said: Lead on, Satan, and we shall
follow thee" And follow him they
did. and brought upon the green earth
the red ruin Of hell.
AS that great American Of German
birth, Carl Schurz, and many other
brave and high minded Germans-my
own father. am proud to say, among
lHeHn-il 1890 StOOu III arms dBhlnbt
Prussian oppression, for liberal ideas
and right and truth and freedom, 80
do We stand now. In fighting for the
cause of America. as loyal Americans,
we are fighting at the same time for
the deliverance OF the country Of our
birth from those unrighteous powers
which hold 1t enthralled and feed
upon its soul.
And when-heaven grant 1t may be
soon!-the soul OF the German peo-
pie will have freed itself from the
sinister powers that now keep 1t In
ban and bondage, when II will have
found again the high impulses and
aims Of Its former self, when 1t will
once more understand and speak the
universal language Of humanity and
right. then. in Gods own time there
will be ps.