Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-04
GSeo'na'S,l evening s.tefday aslay 1Z3OO
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 4. l,
What to Do With Germany.

The overwhelming military and naval
power of the United States having been
enlisted In the cause of the European
Allies against Germany and her satellites,
thus absolutely assuring ultimate victory,
it is only natural that many minds
should revert to the very important ques-
ton of peace terms, which is sure to
confront the world-and nearly every
nation Is involved III some wayor other
sooner or MtEr. The war cannot last
the graveN important matter of peace
terms viii present problem of enormous
difficulty for consideration and solving
Among the most important of recent
deliverances in respect of this question Is
one by Rev Dr. Mark A. Matthews Of
Seattle, Wash, in an address delivered
in this city. He was decidedly radical IN
3, his views He would exclude Germany
entirely.from the peace table conference,
which, be declared, should be preceded
hv the court-martial and shooting Of the
officer IN command OF the submarine
that sank the Lusitama, the officers IN
command Of German boats that bombed
hospital ships, and those responsible for
the destruction Of hospitals on land.
Also, ne would have all the officers who
could be convicted of ordering the un-
sDcakable outrages committed upon the
people Of Belgium and France during
German invasion court-martIaled and
shot.
In respect Of diplomatic issues DR..
Matthews had clear policy to set forth.
Germany must surrender her sword,
dcmobihze her army and surrendered her
navy. She must restore Belgium, repair
every injury and repay for every rum she
has wrought. She must return Alsace and
Lorraine. free Poland, restore Rumaria,
Serbia and all partsof Italy and France
injured or held BY her She must restore
to Russia everything claimed under the re-
cent faxeical treaties She must relInGllsh
all hopes of again possessing her colonies,
shah live on herself, within herself and to
herself. She shall remain II isolation, IN
sackcloth for hundred years. Any nleT-
chant or any person, 4 citizen OF tins gov |
eminent or Of our allied governments, who !
buvs an article made IN Germany for the |
next hundred years ought TO be court |
martialed and shot as a traitor TO human |
ity and righteousness, insists the Seattle |
pastor. And lastly, the kaiser shall be |
III - 5ejo -C
the rest of his miserable life and be per-
nitted to read only literature which tells
OF the success, triumph, peace and pros
perity of America and her Allies. The
seas shall then be free and the world enjoy
liberty.
DR.. Matthews Is q leading Presby-
terian preacher, q former moderator Of
the General Assembly of the Presby-
terian Church, and q man OF much ability.
His views, therefore, are not 10 be set
down as those OF fiery and unthinlIng
radical. But IN some respects they are
radical, and viii hardly commend the
of many who read them
First of all, it may be assumed that
when it comes TO an assemblage Of the
Peace Council, Germany Will not be de-
MED representation. Even Napoleon, IN
the hours Of his downfall, when the
European Allies were considering what
to do in respect of the France they had
finally crushed, gave the fallen Emperor
fair representation and full hearing,
fhrouoh the medium of his faithful friend
and Chancellor, Coulaincourt. 1t Is not
the Allies would think Of denying
TO Germany IN the peace
conferences.
But it viii be admitted that IN deter
mining the terms of peace Germany viii
have little voice and no influence. She
has condemned herself among the decent
nations Of the earth by her ruthless dis
-egard Of law, by her vile outrages, and
1y her insolent employment of brute
power when opportunities were open TO
ler. She must be, first, deprived Of the
power to inhict further outrage upon the
world. Next, to make reasonable in
iemnity to those who have suffered so
errlbly from her ravages. Further than
his speculation may not intelIgently 20
It this time. We must wait for the end Of
he war, and fortunate it is that recent
events IN the war field strongly Indicate
that We are now entering upon the be
ginning Of the end. f"