Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-09-25
Won HERTLNG Is
Continued from page One)

past, they viii stand erect and win moi
cringe, nor groveL"
You are aware deep discomfort has
seized upon wide circles of the popu-
lation on account of the sufferings and
deprivatiOns the war has brought, y
the chancellor said.
i do not intend to try to diminish
this by pressure of words but if this
discomfort is influenced by events on
the western front, l must declare it
far exceeds justifiable limits.
"0ur last big offensive did not bring
the success we hoped The army com
mand found itself forced to withdraw
to the so called Siegfried line. The sit
uation is grave, but there is no cause
to be faint hearted. We have already
passed through harder times.
"Today we have peace with Russia
and Rumania, and although conditions
in Russia are not clear and the future
is uncertain, nevertheless the menace
from two sides has been removed, al
lowing the employment of our eastern
army on the west front.
" Field Marshal Won Hindenburg and
General Won Ludendorff will show
themselves equal to the occasion. The
enemy's premature cries of victory
will soon die away.
From the first day we have waged
a war of defense. We invaded Belgium
only to defend ourselves 1t is true that
we transgressed the written law, but,
as for individuals, so there is for
states a law of defense. We had
grounds to believe that if we did not
act quickly the enemy would invade
us.v
" Humanity shudders at the thought
that this terrible, kultur destroying
war may not be the last. Is it not pos
sible for peace loving nations to set
right above mightg
president Wilson s idea of league
of nations has my entire sympathy, on
condition Of equal rights for all states.
But Wilson has taken no notice. He
seems to have become the head of the
American imperialists. The widest war
fury is raging in the United States.
The people are intoxicated with the
idea that America must bring its blee
sings of modern, liberal kultur to the
enslaved peoples Of central Europe.
Simultaneously, they rejoice at the
many millions of dollars which war ar
miments are causing to flow into the
pSkets of their business men.
"The authorities of the enemy couf-
tries, by an unparalleled campaign Of
lies and calumny have succeeded in
obscuring the truth. What cannot be
explained by the spoken Or writtep
word is achieved by pictorial reproduc
tions of absolutely dcvilish phantasy,
from which one turns in horror and
disgust. Their objects are attaned thru
hatred which has arisen among the enc
my populations against the central EN-
pires, particularly Germany, banishing
all moderation and choking every inn
partial Judgment -
Referring again to league of ma
tions, Won Hertling said:
elf arbitration can be employed in
future international quarrels it will be
a great step forward The question of
a guarantee insuring respect for the
of the court must be serious
ly and thoroughly discussed.
" In regard to the protection of small
Germany will approve the
scheme. Her conscience is clear in that
regard. l hope "a league of nations no
longer is dream of the future. All
peoples should occupy themselves with
the means of realizing its principles. "