The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-30
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
By II. r. Spencer

I OF babies in Belgium: from the DESC
lation of Poland to the massacres IN
Armenia, there has been only open
! applause and encouragement from
the German people. Nothing OF
| fiendish cruelty has been omitted.
And during the last four years OF
horrors not one single voice in 2to-
| test has been heard in all Germany.
No word of condemnation has
come from these people when medals
have been struck, holidays pro-
claimed and hymns written in cele-
bration of acts memorable only for
their excessive brutality.
To talk of cessation of hostili-
/ ties while representatives OF SUCH
people endeavor to negotiate for
frittering away blood-bought victory.
Only unconditional surrender and
disarmament can be the pre-condi-
ton of peace with such people.
The terms of peace are daily being
written by the allied armies on the
battle fields of France. and they are
comprised in two words: UNCONDl
TIONAL SURRENDER.
When Cuba was wrested from
Spanish domination, the United
States took possession of the entire
country, and held it while the Cuban
people perfected form Of govern.
ment adapted to their special re-
quirements. When the island gov
eminent was in full operation the
United States withdrew, and Cuba
has since continued to govern itself.
mostly with success.
A similar procedure must be in
sisted upon with Germany. This
means that every gun, fort, arsenal,
munition factory, battleship, harbor,
and municipality of Germany, be
turned over to the allies to be dealt
with until the Germans themselves
have perfected and have in opera
ton form OF government respon-
sive to the people. who must be
| taught that nations, as we'll as indt-
viduals, have moral responsibility;
that Righteousness, honesty, regard
for human rights, and respect for
law, is the only basis on which any
nation can long endure; that treaties
must be kept. and that the family
of nations will not peprmit one of
it's members to terrorize the rest Of
the world.
The hot iron of retributive justice
must sink deep into the German
soul-a new soul must be born be-
fore the world can again take into
its confidence people who have
forfeited every right to its respect.
1t is not enough that Alsace and
Lorraine be restored to France, and
that Belgium be paid for its wanton
destruction. Loss of territory may
be quietly endured by the German.
even though 1t touch his pride. but
when as must he A load OF debt is
piled 30 high that Germany will be
poor for hundred years. her citi-
dens will curse the day that Wilhelm
tory will be humiliating. but an an
nual pay day, when every German
must reach deep into his pocket to
shed, will be the best teacher of
Is such a program too severe to
be employed by the allies? Nothing
short will make the world safe and
decent place to live in.
Unless the surgeon with steady
hand and firm cuts out the ulcer
that has eaten to the heart of Ger
many, the sacrifices of the world
will have been made in vain.
In the language of our great eman-
cipator:
With malice toward none, with
firmness in the right, as God
gives US to see the right, let us
strive on to finish the work we
are in, to do all that may be
done to create lasting peace
with all nations henceforth.