The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-14
And Still the Germans Wonder

And Still the Germans Wonder
Materialistic Germany, having discarded all
dependence on moral codes and disdained all ad-
herence to high ideals, is beginning to learn that
retributive justice always singles out the. evil
doer for punishment and that the law of COM
pensation applies to nations as well as individuals
When Germany forced the Russians to accept
the Brest-Litovsk treaty at the point of bayonets
and swords, she deceived herself into believing
that success on the eastern front was hers. Her
attitude was that of the robber who relieves a
man of his possessions at the point of revolver
and then gloats over the success of his exploit.
But the land-grabbing Junkers of Berlin are
being paid in their own coin. Two of their high Of
ficias have already fallen victim to the old ter
rorst spirit of Russia, which still prevails despite
four years of war and numerous changes in the
governmental policy.
DR.. Helfferich the German ambassador, has
fled from Moscow to Pskov, because he feared for
his life. Premier Lenine and his foreign secre-
tary, Leon Trotzky, both Of the Berlin gang, have
forsaken Moscow for Kronstadt, the naval base
near Petrograd, because they fear the wrath. Of
the people whom they betrayed to the teutonic
oppressors.
The Berlin Vossische Zeitung plantively adj
mits the defeat of German efforts in Russia when
it says:
Moscow is in the hands of the anti-German
elements and the followers of the social revou-
tionists Of the left. This would show that the
Bolsheviki rule at Moscow is at an end, and this
is the case not only at Moscow but in the greater
part of Russia, if not in the whole Russian en-
pire. This throws vivid light on the failure of
the German policy in the east"
Could the worst enemy Of Germans have writ
ten more pungent admission Of teutonc failure
than the foregoing statement? Does it not signal
ly prove that an unrighteous cause, no matter
how many guns back it up, carries within itself
the very contagion of defeat? After the loss of
thousands of men, after corrupting high Russian
military leaders, after betrayng brave Russian
soldiers into wholesale death, after buying off
the leaders of the Bolsheviki movement, what has
Germany to show for her own crooked methods
but defeat?
Surely the Potsdam gang ought to realize by
this time that the wages of sin is death. Surely
the kaiser and his mad advisers, who could order
the sinking of the Lustania, the massacre Of
women and children, the destruction of Red Cross
Hospitals and mercy ships, ought to begin to
understand that they must pay for their crimes.
The smashing Of the western front in the
Soissons-Rhems sector and in Picardy ought to
kaiser to show for his four years of war? Russia
assassinates his high officials and forces others
to flee for their lives. Marshal Foch delivers
one thunderbolt after another. The kaiser's SOL
ders are weary of bloodshed and pillage. His
people cry for bread at home.
1t will not be long before the house of Hohen-
zollern will fall, never to rise again in tyrannical
might to make it synonym for Huns and a re-
proach to civilization.
The New York Times, quoting the Mechanics
and Metals Bank calls attention to the serious
financial condition of the German empire, which
adds another thorn to the crown of his Most
High:
Disillusonment Of the German people with the in
evabe discovery that their leaders boast Of militia
decision be realized expected by the Mechanics
and Metals Bank to bring about internal crisis which
will hasten the Up little while their vic
elated the German people. Germany's account
book shows 100000 dead and perhaps
many permanently wounded 1t shows nation
stripped material and deprived of formerly
great trade. 1t shows a nation bearing pres
ent indebtedness OF $4,000 100000. shows also
though this nothing inside Germany just
now a nations honor in ashes Whether they blind them
selves not it is plain day to all who will that
the milestone that is fastened to the neck OF
Germany a great reality affecting the German people
That milestone grows steadily in weight Man power and
decrease daily, while the burden grows
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