Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-08

vious difficulties to ascertain the correct motive OF the
kaissr's sffacins himself from the front pages Of the
worlds newspapers. but there = every reason to believe
his seeming reticencs\ proceeds from sources beyond
bis control-in other words that certain circumstances
have made 1t imperative for the ruler to remain quiet.
It has been noticed that in the documents emanat-
ing from the peoples government there have been
found no reference to the kaiser or to the imperial gov
ernment,' nor to any interest Of the dynasty. The Ho-
just simply have been oblterated from the
official correspondence, and Judging from current re-
ports. the same process is about to be applied to him as
far as the mind OF his people are concerned.
It does not appear that the kaiser has had anything
to do with the shaping Of that final policy which led to
Germany's declaring herself ready to accept the terms
of the Allies. And still it can be taken for granted that
he has changed the famous postulate of Bismarck, I'VE
Germans fear God and nothing else lin all the world, T" to
I'VE Germans fear Foch more than anything else in the
whole wide world
The emperors allies have deserted hizn. not just be-
cause they wanted to do it, but solely because thew had
to. His people are deserving him. having at last dis
covered the transparency Of his Ridiculous claims to their
affection and supreme loyalty: and his enemies are about
to inflict such a punishment upon the man as may never
have been matched before in the long and sorrowful rec
ords Of imperial and royal misrule.
Just what will happen to the kaiser. no one can tell
at this moment. A solitary internment on an island like
ST. Helena mas Deenf repeatedly suggested, but consider.
ate Commentators have dismissed this because it might
enhance the mans morbid vainglory by indirectly giving
him the Impression that he is, considered to be Of the
mental caliber of Napoleon. And he isn't. He is much
more of a maniac than a statesman and a genius, and
it was probably a correct reflection of military sentiment
when a German general, hearing in the latter part Of
1914 that William was to head the armies, wrote anony-
mously to the Berliner Tageblatt: IF that's the case
then God help our legions!"
1t is comparatively immaterial to speculate upon the
future career of the last of the Reconsideration he
will undoubtedly be the last. to ascend the throne-but
it is of much interest to call attention to the fact that as
far as the German people and the rest of the world are
concerned, it seems to be tacitly taken for granted that
he is definitely down and OUT" that he has been totally
removed from the circles where he might Lave done
more harm than he did; and that no General Foch or anv
other victorious army leader can impose a heavier pun
ishment upon this individua1I than can his guilty con-
science. It may be a blunt conscience. and he may have
a tallous heart, but at that there is no doubt that he
hears voices and sees visions a thousand times worse
than those ever pictured in Dante's Inferno.
1t is not too much to add that the punishment fits
the crime. - -.lF # -