Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-23
Wednesday, October q, 1918.
The New" German Government.

man government could utter after
reading the reply to President Will
son? This amazing criminal among
nations brazenly stands up before
you and denies the atrocities the
proof of which IL knows you hold and
even secs in your hands. And then
expects the world TO accept the pre-
tense that "A now government has
been formed in complete accordance
with the wishes Of the representation
OF the people
Again. IT uhe German govern
mcnD trusts that the President of the
tinted states will approve Of no de-
mand which would be irreconcilable
with the honor Of the German people
and with opening way to a peace
Of justice"
II ans person in the world (even in
the German governmenD ever had
anything but contempt for the
honor" OF tho German people, it has
been dispelled by Germanys inhu-
mane acts. by her staggering con-
tempt fog binding treaties and inter
national provisions, by her boosted
discipleship Of "frightfulness" as a
necessary means OF impressing Prus-
sian superiority: by her sneering pity
for the weakness and helpless
ness OF peoples standing for sacred
ness Of human contracts. These
people Tor their representative" gov
ernmenD ask our President to re-
member and respect their honor"
Oh Lord
The shameless. brazen prevarica-
ton OF the reply shuts the NEW"
government OF Germany, in its first
utterance. off from world respect.
For this representative Of a convicted
monster OF cruelty. gls Berserker
among nations, tells us to our face
that the horrors We see and feel and
hear and touch are not so.
This new" government Of Ger
many demands that neutral COM
mittee pass upon the charges against
her OF inhumanc acts, as IL the allied
nations were incompetent to judge
the enormities innictedoupon them.
And then IL admits the atrocities
which 1t had just denied by whining
that they have been justified by the
necessities OF war"
In brief, the German srepiy as a
whole Is clumsy bundle Of lies and
self contradictions. II claims treat
ment as an equal, military and
moral, OF humane and law abiding
nations, on the ground that 1t has not
prscticcd inhumanity. and then
blunderingly proves the charge by
ordering "unrestricted' U-boat MUIR
ders discontinued.
We can but assume that any an
swer az any made by President Will
son on behalf OF the American people,
and after consultation with the gov
ernments of Great Britain and
France. will plainly and unequivocai-
ly state to the new" government OF
Germany that the proclaimed
progress toward constitutional re-
forms can be made in peace and de-
liberation after the Prussian military
ursehins has laid down its arms and
allied occupation Of German cities
and strategic points guarantee to the
world that the old Prussian, Hehsn.
sslisrn order OF things is not putting
over . SCRAP Of paper" trick.
The American President can in
dulge German honor" by not men,
tioning unconditional surrender"
hut at the same time, in a few words,
make It plain that America and the
entente allies are no longer taking
chances on German honor" or
Hohcnzollern contempt for sacred
contracts between nations. Such an
ultimatum the new" German gov
eminent may accept In acting for the
German peoples demand for peace,
or II can await the processes OF one
General Foch in supreme command
Of allied forces in the field.
The new" German government
can In part retrieve its initial blunder
by disavowing Hohenzollern atroci-
ties. and start right by ordering
cessation Of all its inhumane prac-
tees. thereby putting itself in line
TOR recognition by world powers. The
frst and best step toward peace by
the German people would be TO get
rid Of thc Kaiser, his degenerate
crown prince and all other Hohcn-
zollern incubus. and TO bury forever
its military control. Then the world
would know that new conditions had
been established in Germany. Then
the world could begin to respect
statements from a German govern.
ment--but not II the policy OF braz-
emily declaring that black 10 white,
continues.
Let Germany stop lying as a