The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-29
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 things now that were hidden to me during my student days in Berlin. credited much of the arrogance and the insoence of the Prussians to the fact that they were without manners.
 In the light of recent events and as study Prussian history, I find that the lapses of the Prussians go deeper than mere question of what the French call savior faire, that it is based on the false ideal that German kultur was to be imposed on the world.
 
 To have transformed the Germany of 1860 into the Germany of 1900 was truly a wonderful accomplishment. Small won- der then that the intoxicating wine of success mounted to the brain of the German people, and the belief kept growing that nation which had worked such mircles was truly led by an En- peror who ruled by divine right.
 It was 'sHohenz ollern" methods where by Germany was hypnotized by the success of Prussia until at last she was swallowed up by the masterful Bis marck; and all dreams of a federal em- pire patterned on the Frankfort Par liament faded away, and the tide of liberalism which had followed so freely in 1S4S-9 was damnend up by setting up rulers who were gravely mistrustful of democracy and foes to states rights.
 If you will keep this in mind, the high flown phrase of President Wilson, in which he said ''the world must be made safe for democracy" passes out of mere academic expression, for it goes to the root of the matter in our conflict with Germany. I want to try and make it clear that the contest in which we are involved represents not a mere clash of interests, but conflict of moral ideas
 am set to combat the pro-German propaganda which has fooled some of the very elect, that, after all, when all is said, it's case of six of one and a. half dozen of the other; that neither side is wholly right or wholly wrong; i; that the truth lies between them," and that no enduring settlement can be reached between the central powers and the allies which is not based upon a frank recognition of the fact. Many in America were further hoodwinked by being told that we had just as good a cause for quarrel with England as we had with Germany.
 have personal knowledge that number of my friends were for long time fooled with such claims and with held their sympathies from England. who all along. with France, was fight ing our battle. They were caught off guard and were the victims of de- lusive impartiality which made them partisans of those who were feeding the public with the doctrine that it wasn't Americas fight and that she ought to refuse to get entangled in any foreign alliances. I might as well confess that for awhile I fell for it myself.
 | It seems queer how anyone could have been misled far enough to take I any stock in the talk that the German Emperor WIS the peace keeper of Flu rope" and that he was forced in the war against his will by the militarists 1 in power," in the face of the traditional methods of the Hohenzollerns who were 1! ever ready to make war if they fel, that they were strong enough to prey on the weaker nations. It was only necessary to call to the witness stand 1 the Danes of Schleswig, the Prussan- ized Poles. the Germanized Alsatians | This leads up to the question of na- ] tionaMty. Prussia has never respected | the states system of Europe. l haven't time here, but the rise of states | is one of the ronances of history. The I European polity consists today of nearly a score of states, existing side by side on terms of complete independence and l nominal equality. It will be remem 1 bered that William Stead wrote an in teresting book on the United States ol