Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-12

allies. Jeers, mockery and contempt were
the answer.
He, up above knows my sense Of
responsibility. Repeatedly during the
past months the responsible leaders of
the imperial Government have unam-
biguously given TO understand, to every
one who wished to understand, that we
are, at all times ready to offer the hand
of peace"
The Emperor declared the answer OF
Germany's enemy was the outspoken will
to destruction. the tiisintegration. the
crushing of Germany.
ITO make peace" he added, two are
needed. II either Is unwilling the other
cannot. presuming that he does not
overthrow the other. Thus we are con.
fronted with the enemy's absolute will
to destruction. And against this abso-
lutte will to destruction we must place
our absolute will to preserve our ex-
istence.
our brave army out there has shown
you this will and deed. Whether in as
sault, or withdrawal. or trench fighting.
the only thing that matters is that the
enemy should lose as much as possible.
That has occurred and continues to
occur.
our death-defying navy also has
proved that. It beat the enemy at the
Skagerrack despite his great superiority.
U-Bosts' Ruthless Work Praised
our C-hoats, like a consuming worm,
gnaw at the enemys vitals more than
our enemies will admit.
Even though, in the opinion Of many
among you 1t Is lasting too long, every
German man and every German woman
must In witnessing these incomparably
heroic deeds of our army and cur navy
be aware that we are fighting and strug-
CLING for existence and that we must
make the utmost effort 10 defend our
selves VIGOROUSLY, not only through the
work, but as regards the thoughts OF
our people.
Many among you have often asked
themselves during this long war: How
did such thing happen? Why did
we have to undergo such a thing after
forty years of peace?' l think it Is a
question well worthy of an answer and
which must be answered for the future
for our children and our grandchil-
dren"
War the Product OF Envy
"You will acknowledge that am
right in describing this war as the
product of great negation. And do
you ask what negation is? 1t Is the
negation of the German peoples right
to existence. Ii is the negation OF all
our kultur. a negation Of our achieve
ments, of all our work.
Envy induced our enemies to fight
and war came upon us. And now. when
our opponents see that their hopes have
been deceptive and how our mighty gen.
erals. after whom your new workshops
are rightly named. have dealt them
blow upon blow, hatred springs up. We
only know the honest wrath which
deals the enemy the blow, but when he
lies PROSTATE and bleeding we extend
to him our hand and see to his re-
corcry.
But the Anglo-Saxon does not yet
desire peace. That Is how things are.
1t is proof of his feeling of inferiority
that the Anglo-Saxon has recourse to
such criminal means"
Kaiser Relies" Upon God
The Emperor then referred TO the
German Empress, who by Gods assist
ance again Is on the road to recovery"
He recalled the passages in the Bible.
Cast thy burden upon the Lord and
he shall sustain thee" and But seek
ye first His kingdom and his righteous
ness and all these things shall be added
unto you" The Emperor then added:
How can we please God and soften
His heart? BY doing our duty. In
making our fatherland free. Conse-
quently it is our duty to hold out with
all our strength in the fight against
our enemies.
Each Cne of us has received his ap-
pointed task from on high. You at your
hammer, you at your lathe and l on
my throne. We must all. however
build on Gods assistance Doubt is
the greatest ingratitude toward the
Lord. and now I ask you all simply
and honestly: Have we, then, really
ground for doubt?
"Only in the west do we still fight
and it is to be thought that the good
God will abandon us there at the last
momentt We often at home and at
the front, in church and in the open
air, have sung Fine Feste Burg Ist
Unser Gott.' So it is resounded in the
blue vault of heaven and in the thun-
derclouds.
Pledges All to Fight
"Whovere has his heart in the right
place and whoever intends to keep faith,
| let him stand up.
| "Now promise me on behalf of the
entire German labor: We intend to
| fight and to hold out to the last. 70
help us, God" Whoever 50 Intends let
| him answer yes"
The assembly loudly chorused yes"
and the Kaiser continued.
II thank you. With this yes / 20
now to the field marshal. Now it is
| for every one of US to fulfill his vow
to duty and to exert his body and
| mind to the utmost for the fatherland.
Every doubt must be banished from
| mind and heart.
"Our watchword now is: The German
swords are raised, hearts are strong
and muscles are taut. On to the battle
| against everything that stands against
US, no matter how long it lasts, so help