New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-11
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
By II. r. Spencer.

Hun that ncOndit1Ona surrender IS
the only thing that will procure a
cessation of hostilities.
When General Washington defeat
ed CORVALLIS at Yorktown, the
British general sent a messenger ask
ing the commander of the American
forces for a conference to determine
terms of equalization General Wash
ington, by the same messenger, re-
piled that only unconditional surrend-
er would be accepted.
At Appomattox, General Grant de-
manded, and received, the uncondi-
tional surrender of the confederate
forces under General Lee.
In the Spanish-American war, the
Spanish general at Santiago request
ed permission to withdraw his army
from the beleaguered town. Presi-
dent Mckinley ordered his generals
in the field to demand instant and
unconditional surrender. at the same
time instructing them that anything
less than that would create the ne
cessity of fighting at some other time
and place, under conditions less ia
vorable. The Spanish army surrend-
cred.
In view of American history, il
NAV very well be said that the Unit
ed States has contracted the habit
of demanding, and obtaining, the I'M
conditional surrender of its enemies.
The time is near at hand when
Germany will ask for a cessation of
hostilities. and a conference with the
allies to determine a treaty of peace.
Throughout the United States there
is but one sentiment, and that is,
that when. the end of the war comes,
it must be by a treaty of peace. and
not by a mere truce; that it must
be such a recognition of the prin-
ciples of popular government, with
equal justice to all, and respect for
the rights Of others, that the Ger
mans may not in time to come throw
it into the waste basket as a mere
SCRAP of paper. SO far as the Ger
mans are concerned. it must not be
peace with a Loaf. but a triumph
of the principle that the will of the
people, and not that of the ruler,
is the law of the land. Aud the
will of the German people must be
made to conform to the law Of ma
tions. and they must be taught that
treaty obligations may not be lightly
set aside. .
That peace can only be obtained
by the absolute surrender Of the
German army is clear from an analvS-
is of the German type of mind. That
there is no moral force. or standard
of nationalJirht and wrong, N Ger
Many is manifest from what it has
done during and prior to the present
war.
The plotting to Germanize the
world. the utter disregard for treaty
the murder and butchery
of civilian noncombatants, the enslav-
ing of men and women in occupied
territory, the crucifixion of prison
ers. the mutilation of men, women
and children the ravishing of wom-
en-; the maintenance of sub-sea
the to sheer brutal
ity. cunning. and craft, in n
only accredited to savages. clearly
demonstrate that there is no under
conscience in Germany to which
an appeal can be made for a world
peace. Nothing but force is known
by the German. and by force he
be regenerated, if at all.
All classes of Germans.-professors,
students. statesmen, and preachers.
have approved of every act of cruel
tv ordered or sanctioned by the mill
tary authorities. From the sinking
Of the Lusitania to the impaling of
babes in Belgium; from the desola-
ton of Poland to the massacres in
Armenia, there has been only open
applause and encouragement from
the German people. Nothing of
fiendsh cruelty has been omitted.
And during the last four years Of
horrors not one single voice in pro-
test has been heard in all Germany.
No word of condemnation has come
these people when medals have
been struck, holidays proclaimed, and
hymns written in celebration of acts
memorable only for their excessive
brutality.
To talk of a cessation of hosti'i-
les while representatives of such a
endeavor TO negotiate for
peace is sheer folly. and would be
'rittering AVA blood-bought victor.
Only unconditional surrender and
disarmament can be the pre-condition
IF peace with such a people. The
.erms of peace are daily being writ
EN- BY the allied armies on the bat
lie fields of France. and thew are
in two words: UNCON-
OPTIONAL SURRENDER.
When Cuba was wrested from
domination the United States
.ook possession of the entire coun-
Try, and held it while the Cuban
perfected a form of govern
adapted to their special require
nents. When the island government
was in full operation the United
States withdrew. and Cuba has since
to govern itself, mostly
With success.
A similar procedure must be in
listed upon with Germany. This
means that every gun, fort, arsenal.
nunition factory. battleship, harbor.
md municipality of Germany be turn
d over to the allies to be dealt
With until the Germans themselves
ave perfected. and have in operation
form of government responsive to
he people, who must be taught that
l%ations. as we'll as individuals. have a
moral responsibility; that righteous
Tess. honesty, regard for human
lights. and respect for law is the
My basis on which anv nation can
ong endure; that treaties must be
rent; and that the family of nations
viii not permit one of its members
terrorize the rest of the world.
The hot iron of r%etribntive Justice
nust sink deep into the German soul.
"a new soul must be born before
he world can again take into its
a people who have for
every right to its respect.
II is not enough that Alsace and
arra;oo he rae@orad - Er,ora ,,d