South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-04
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MARCH 4. 1913.
POTsDAM's AMERICAN COUSINS.

our American militarists if cousins by political
marriage TO the ploters of Potsdam continue their
the congressional elections next
fall Anything 20 dscredit the administration at
Washington OF which TO corral another dissatisfied
voter anything anti-American if need be. pro-Ger-
man if it must be. break down every Amer
lean ideal prolong the il for years.
than miss partisan advantage. though the basis
Of it be of whole CLOTH appears the sinister motive
behind their propaganda.
AS we have before remarked; no. indeed. it need
not be OF the made in Germany variety. American
politicians and American journalists entirely
capable with their eye fixed partisan advantage.
to cooperate with article and quite without
Berlins cooperation return; and thus, knitting the
president, by indrecton. of through knitting
his war administration appOintees, merrily on.
Here is one that might almost have come from the
plotters of Potsdam. however. quite direct:
"An armies in the world have the death
penalty for desertion. but Secy Baker has
shown his pacist inclination and his unhtness
as a military leader by setting it aside in this
country. Humanitarianism is good for speech
making but for making armies. Watch
the number of assertions grow
But no. thank you. it isn't taken from George
sylvester Viercks American Weekly, formerly the
"Fatherland" We're ne to utter stuff would
accuse advocating here in America, the Prus-
sian mould OF miIitarism without any of human
itariansm" it, except of the insincere type
that pours forth from the mouths of the linden
bergs Won Hertlings and the Tripitzes. This
you please is of the exceeding patriotic" briliance
that shines forth six times week from at 12s
\ Main St. and 119-21-23 in Center alley, next to
Tony Barretts Owl saloon.
Get the motive; anything to discredit secy Baker
and by indirecuon take sneaking towards stab at
Prest Wtlson-author Of Secy Bakers appointment
militarist dspses him for his 'pacihs,
iacinatons. socalled, but have ever noticed that
in this It is the who believe in peace who
are doing the work. and ore getting ready fight
that peace-nsead of the ranting roaring. below
ing militarists, year two athrst for gore
but who now make it their principal occupation 10
find fault.
sec'y Baker aside the death penalty for diser-
ton. dc he? No. he suspended the penalty just as
Abraham Lincoln thousands cases during the
civil in fact practically all cases-Or rather
commuted them to Imprisonment a federal prison
taking each its merits; exactly what
Sec'y Baker has done
Proof his "unhtness as a military leader is it
Then Lincoln was UNIT and George washington was
unfit. The assertion of contemporary as of tbs
diseased a Potsdam junker the military sys-
tenn of which would seemingly transport and fasten
upon everyone-save attaches. Humanitarian.
ism is good for speecB-making hut poor for making
armies is it? Splendid sentiment to inocuate the
brains OF American fathers and mothers with: that
there should be no humanitariansm in our army life
and in substance. that fight in this war under
the claim Of humanity is merely a "speechmak king
camoufage.
Nothing could be better calculated to make "paci-
fists Of Americans, and "pacifsts" the most dis
pcable Sort the that is for peace at any price
rather than the Baker carbre that is for peace al
any cost"-even the cost Of war. Our contemporary
need WORRY about the prospective increase dis
sertions Even IL there should be few they would
be no worse than lot OF "slackers running at large
"slackers' through being "cackers'-for whom our
contemporary Is real modern. up-to-date incubator
America entered this war a pacifst nation. IL yo,
wish call it that. It kept long it could
hoping against hope perhaps but hoping When al
hope failed. and il became necessary take up the
sword. il to collect indemnities cour
annexations. but enforce peace. lasting peac
in the name Of humanty,-not only 5 a speech
making" pastime. but. if YOU please established
fact through world made safe for democracy.
Cast aside those principles: eliminate humanitarian
ism from this war. and the determination 10 securt
for humanity that measure Of self-government tina
viii render lts repetition impossible, and there z
nothing left for America to fight for You might a.
well lie down and let the kaiser his way. The like
az Prussan militarism about an left whe'
and democracy lose out whether h,
self-elmination By force.-and you might perhaps
well have il under a kaiser "a under a Roosevelt