Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-09
Count Ilya Tolstoy
On, G E. r. NJ A N

tBy Count Ilya Tolstoy.)

To you, the thinking people Of Ger
many; to you, the leaders Of the so.
cial democratic party, and to all citi-
gems of Germany who's conscience 10
not yet dead, / address this appeal.
L believe that il my words : r
nobody will be able to stt1e them, and
that they will reach you.
The answer must cone not to me,
but to the whole world.
I accuse you Of the most heinousc
crime that a be committed by man.
i accuse you Of abusing and trining
with the highest humane ideals.
So long a you followed the law OF
Moses. an eye for an eye and q tooth
for a tooth, and were running millions
Of lives invcnting terrible weaponstfor
warfare and murder; while you were
|inhumanly killing fellow men and you
yourselves were dying fanatically,
both you and your victims were to be
pitied. Humanity might have taken
the wrong road: but there was hone
that the tranlpled ideals Of love and
brotherhood could be resurrected to
ave and bring the human race to-
gether. ;
You Germans proclaimed those
deals long before the war. You pro-
claimed them loudly. The socialists
Of your country promised their COM
rades of different nations that you
would not lift your sword for the con-
quest of imperialism. You have not
kept these promises:
Formerly you might have been
convinced that Germany wa not con-
Quoting a war of conquest. You might
have thought that you were defending
your fatherland from, the imperialism
of Russia. Since then everything has
changed. Ruesia's imperialistic gov
eminent has fallen. Russia has be-
come democratic. Yet you continue
to advance against the helpless Rus
slams. The greed Of your government
has become a terror.
What can be your Qualification
now? What have you done to prove
your sincerity? Not only have you
not demanded the cessation Of the
war. and kept your promises. but you
have committed a far graver' crime.
Taking advantage Of the freedom Of
propaganda in Russia. you enteredj
our trenches, penetrated into the in-
new ideal of international brothers
hood. Under false banners OF inter-
national brotherhood you have led
our people to disaster with the cry OF
love on your lips. 5
Your propaganda proclaimed the
unity Of the democratic elements OF
the whole. world. You stretched forth
your hands to IL simple. trusting SOL
dicr. AS he extended his hand to re-
turn your grasp Of Fellowship you
snatched his weapons Of defense from
him.
Now gaze upon the Russian soldier.
He stands disarmed before YOU. Your
sword Is raised over HIS head. ready
to penetrate the vitals Of his nation.
The treachery of Judas pales BE-
the crime that you have com
mitted.
/, Do not say that you are powerless
in your struggle against the purposes
of your government.
1t was o who raised the banner
Of zinn1erwald. From our socialist
ranks came IIenine and other agita-
tors into Russia. The hours has
come when men who have principles
must fight for them. Sincere men
give up their lives for their princi-
They die in exile. What have you done
to prove your sincerity:
The world awaits your words Of
condemnation OF your government;
But not a sound is heard. M 4
.On.sthe contrary, your. government
is now triumphantlyr reapins the
fruits of your propaganda, You stand
idly by. You DO not check it. The
result OF your conduct is a mockery of
osA II o0S1 S~ ASc
are pressed into temporary service to
replace h poison gases Of warfare.
I call upon you, not in the name of
RuAeis. not in the name Of any ma
terial thing: l call upon you in the
name Of those great ideals of human
brotherhood and fellowship which
you have insulted and shanefully
trarnpled down. :,
Unfortunately. individuals some-
times act in violation OF their profess
ed principles. Society condemns such
individuals bitterly. But in this casc
ideals have been misused to lead
astray a nation. Their highest aspira-
tions, their faith in human nature it.
self, has been trihed with. And re-
member that upon you, the leaders Of
German thought, the sponsors for
these appeals. falls the heavy respon-
sibility. not only in the eyes OF the
world. not only before your own peo-
ple-no. your greatest responsibility
rests upon you yourselves. How can
you face the judgment Of your own
conscience and the verdict, of victory?
INDIANA.S CANDIDATES.