New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

THE LORD SI1ANOCGLOR - ne
time has come, Mr.. Attorney, for you to
continue your address to the Court.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALLY My
Lords, we have now reached the third,
and what must be the last, day of this
treat trial; since the world began never
has there been framed such an indict-
ment as that which you have heard from
the clerk of this august court In the
history of this country we have but once
arraigned sovereign at the bar of pub
lie Justice in this venerable hall.
King Charles levied war upon Parlia-
{ msnt, and Parliament proved the
stronger, and though he paid the penalty
Of lifting his hand against his people, yet
from the day that he raised his standard
at Nottingham to the last solemn hour
Of his execution he fought with honor, as
soldier should, and died as only gal
liant gentleman can. No cruelty stained
his banners, no baseness furnished his
sword, and as we look back through the
mists Of time we can all Of US recognize
in the figure of that solitary and forlorn
champion of lost cause something that
stirs our admiration as we'll as our COM
passion, and we can salute him as one
that was all soldier should be-brave,
courageous and humane.
But he that was once Emperor in Ger
many and King of Prussia, and who now
stands here before you, bears no resem-
blance to that great gentleman, King
Charles, save that he has worn crown.
When we recall the awful and unnum-
bered horrors with which he has covered
this globe we can we'll doubt whether all
history can furnish a parallel to him.
Here he stands, claimant of his Divine
Right as King to be answerab1e for his
actions and his mandates only to God
and his conscience.
Well, then, upon him let the judgment
sall for those actions and for those man
dates. By whose authority but his was
helpless Belgium invaded, treaties treach-
erously broken and her people slaugh-
tered? By whose authority but his were
her priests murdered in cold blood and
her nuns violated by the vile soldiery?
BY whose authority but his were helpless
prisoners Of war dubbed to death by his
infamous guards? By whose authority
pOt his were hospitals on land bombarded
and hospital ships at sea sent to the
p0s'om! By whose authority but his
were armed merchant ships attacked, and
sa their helpless crews murdered, so as
70 leave no trace behind?
All these infamies, and others, have
'een recited here to-day as having been
su'norlzed by this man, who thought
'inself secure behind the serried ranks
VI MS barbaric soldiery. But time and
Jug might Of civilization have dissipated
"'Ose lnvincible armies, and they have
'A'1Velled before the wrath of mankind.
'he whole world rose up in it's majesty
''0 tore from him that shining armor of
""'ch 1t was his custom to boast, and
~" here he stands bereft of all the
"applngs of his sinister power.
ne mas talked of his conscience, but if
nc mas one he must groan as he looks
WIN along the vista of these years and
Sso endless columns of the spectres of
VIC sam, sees the piteous outraged women
s"a slaughtered little children, sees
S''es made desolate in countries far and
1'"r' sees the faces of murdered seamen
a'ihg In the moonlight among the
wing waves of the sea. He has made
~ whole world he set out to conquer
0ne vast charnel house.
"e'i might you, my lords, leave him,
ne any heart in his bosom, to the
s Aent OF that conscience of his, were it
saat 1t is right and necessary that
.N'aee should be indicated upon the
-, Vengeance is mine," saith the
80 and to Gods vengeance it is meet
suing that his soul should be con-