The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-11
Continued from Page One.)

engaged is indeed a conflict between
two schools of thought, two systems
Of philosophy, conflict between two
religious or moral beliefs.
Every great civilization in history
has had it's foundation in great moral
mon to all PHILOSOPHERS that brought
good to the world. They found their
greatest expression in the Christian
religion. All of the great blessings in
our civilization in literature, in art,
in science, may directly be traced to
the influence of the teachings of
Christ. All great democracies are
founded fundamentally on this moral
that the same rule of con-
duct must govern nations in their re-
lationS with other nations as govern
men in their relations with each other,
that the same law governs states that
governs man. The philosophy which
Nietzschke, Bernhard and Treitschke
and leaders of German political
thought have translated in the life
and conduct of the imperial govern
ment of Germany is the direct Oppo-
site of the principles of Christianity.
This philosophy proclaims that he who
has the power to take has the divine
right to have; that the standard of
Righteousness is success; that if you
can get away with it no matter what
the deed is, it is right. 1t places a
different rule of conduct upon a ma
theory Of the autocratic state of Ger
many is that the state can do no
wrong. That all things may be done
by the state to increase it's greatness
and power.
Thus spoke the crown prince i'll
1913: To-day, indeed, we live in a time
which points with special satisfaction
to the proud height of it's culture
which is only too willing to boast of
its international cOsmopOlitanism, and
fiatters itself with visionary dreams
OF the possibility of an everlasting
peace throughout the world This
view of life is un-German and does not
become u.s."
Thus spoke Treitschke in 1916: 1T
is necessary, then, to choose between
public and private morality, and since
the state is power, its duties must
rank differently from those of the in
diVidual."
Driven Into War.
Tbo ,,yI,1 81
ruling class of Germany upon which
their actions of government are found
ed, is based on this idea, towit: that
might makes right and that no moral
law governs the state.
1t is in this fact that explanation
is to be found for many of the actions
OF the ruling class of the central en-
pire.
1t was the application of this un-
considerable theory of government that
literally drove this country into war
1t was this philosophy which justified
the treating of sacred treaty obliga.
ton to which our country was party
as a scrap Of paper under the excuse
OF military necessity. 1t was this phil
OsOphy which excused repeated viola
lions of the rules of the Geneva anC
Hague convention, of which Germany
and our country were signers, by the
massacre of entire villages for the
crimes or indiscretions of a few, by
the levying of fines upon populations
on account Of the acts of individuals
by the deportation and enslavement OF
civilian populations of conquered ter.
ritory against their will All these
things are proved by the official re
ports not only of this country but Of
Germany itself
1t was this philosophy which con
doned the Wanton slaughter of Amer.
lean men, women and children abroad
the Lusitania and made that tragedy
through deceit of the German people
the occasion for public celebration
It was this philosophy which at
tempted to impose upon this nation
which had fought to establish the free
dom of the seas in 1912, conditions
without color of right, as to where
our ships and citizens must travel and
to prescribe the variegated dress ou1
ships must wear.
1t was this philosophy which justi-
fed the violation of our confidence by
filling our land with spies, by working
with dynamite and f1rebrand under the
screen Of immunities which one hon
orable nation gives to the diplomatic
representatives of another
1t was this philosophy which
prompted the effort of the German for
eign office by clumsy connivance and
exaggerated promises to persuade
Mexico and Japan our peacable neigh
bors, to wage war upon us. These AND
many other similar acts were the ugly
offspring of this philosophy of might
In the face of such acts, in the face
of the portentous possibilities to our
country and to civilization in the vic
tory of such ideas, could our nation
as matter Of self respect, as a mat
ter Of honor, do aught but enter this
war and enter it with the stern deter