Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-07-18
The Word "Hun."

| Sidoudlly IuS WOIQ rluH IS sup
planting the term German" as the
descriptive appellation Of the people
against whom the allied free nations Of
the world are now at war. II the word
continues at its present rate of pro-
gress in the common speech, il will
eventually, in the mouths Of all people
outside of what We call Germany, take
the place Of all other terms. AS mat
ter of fact, the inexactness and extreme
variability Of all previous words used
to describe the so-called German"
people have long been recognized.
They do not call themselves German,
except in very occasional and literary
way. The term Germans" was first
applied to them in a contemptuous way
by one Of the Celtic tribes, and was
taken up by the Romans. 1t was
practically unknown to the Germans
themselves. They have, indeed, no
racial name. They call themselves
Deutsch, and their country Deutsch-
land; but the word "Deutsch," which we
render by DUTCH" and apply to an
other people which does not call itself
by that name, signifies merely "the
people" Its use is a relic.of the prac-
tice among all primitive tribes and
races Of calling themselves "the peo-
ple," as if there were no others in the
world entitled to the name.
In view of the fact that the Germans
really have not any honestly earned or
scientifically applied name, the word
"Hun" may be as good for them as any
other. What does it signify? This
word also has no determinably racial
character. 1t was first applied to
horde of savages who, in the fourth
century OF the Christian era, came into
Europe from Central Asia, and, under
the command of the fierce chieftain
Attila, began to desolate the Roman
Empire and its colonies and depen-
dencies. They were in truth racially
mixed lot, gathering up of precious
rascals from many sources. Their
warfare was massacre, their god was
force, their discipline was mutilation.
They sought the worlds hate rather
than its blessing. Bought of, or weak
ened by dissipation, or attracted else
where, they scourged and murdered in
a scattering sort Of way until the
tenth century, when they or their like
came again, under one Arpad, this time
to stay.
They established themselves on the
Danube, in what was then Moravia,
and have been there ever since. In
deed, they extended their ravages to
Italy and even to Lorraine, and it was
then that the Emperor Otto proclaimed
them "the enemies OF God and humani-
ty," He refused to receive their am
basSadors, because they did nothing but
lie; and he led Europe VIGOROUSLY
against them near Augsburg, in e55,
putting to death all their army except
seven men, who were sold into slavery.
But the Huns remained on the Danube,
whence, in the persons OF the Hunga-
rians, they come forth once more, un-
der the lead of one worse than AttiIa
or Arpad, as the enemies of God and
humanity
Why do We call the old Huns sue
cessors, the self-styled Deutsch, Huns
today? Because they adopt the saw
age warfare, the relentless cruelty, the
insolence Of barbarity, of the ancient
Huns; because their ambassadors deal
in lies, and their rulers refuse to keep
their agreements; because they despise
liberty and justice, and seek to destroy
all that the world has stored UP Of the
fruits of civilization. At first the term
Hun" was applied to them in pure
horror, occasionally only, and as a
figure Of speech. 1t tends to become
habitual. The hand of fate may be in
this. The term has been abundantIy
earned. 1t is as simple as it is true,
and as true as it is simple. Without
losing shred Of its character as an
epithet of horror, it may pass into an
accepted designation for people which
has indeed done all it can to transfer
to its shoulders a name that long since
became the recognized sum and ex-
preston Of all cruelties and infamies.