Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-08-23
Why Germany Should Be Made to Pay the Cost Of the War to the Allies Which
Would Be Far Less Burden Than the South Had to Bear After 1865

It seems inconceivable to think that
there can be found any honest heart
cd man or woman who could for a
moment question that justice to the
men who have died, to the millions
OF men and women who have lived
In an sgony OF woe, and to the civili-
zstion of the future, demands finan-
cisl penalty equally as great ss that
here suggested, In addition to the pen
atty Of death upon the leaders Of this
fearful conspiracy.
II this penalty should be enforced
upon Germany (and in saying Ger
many We include It's allies) to the ex-
treme, that country would not have
proportionstely as great . burden to
carry % the South had to bear after
1885.
As the South redeemed itself from
poverty to prosperity within half
century, It would be entirely possible
for Germany to achieve as much.
Moreover, It would be curse to the
world for Germany not to have to
suffer through long years OF penitence
and struggle for the unspeakable
crimes which It has committed.
A prosperous Germany within the
next quarter Of . century would be .
blot upon civilization and would show
that civilizations did not have the moral
backbone and manhood to punish the
CRIMINAL.
Az we'll might We open the doors Of
every penitentiary OF every land and
turn loose every vile criminal who has
forfeited his right to earn . living, and
to be treated ss . decent citizen, % to
permit Germany to 60 unpunished for
. long term of years % some atone
ment for its crimes, with financial in.
demnity which would restore to the
nations robbed and looted the finarcial
cost OF saving civilization from de-
struction.
Against such punishment % here
outlined every weak minded, spine-
lees, moral coward, who car be in
fluenced by pro- -Germanism. will pro-
test, while every pscifist, which is but
another name for . co-worker with
ell OF the criminal acts of Germany,
and every pro-Germsn throughout
the world, would oppose it, through
the press and through politics, wher-
ever pro- -Germanism could work its
mslign inaneuQe r. lDaXer q nor
ey or fhs power Of Psychology or
mental suggestion or hypnotism.
Germany has proven itself to be the
blackest criminal In sll human history /;
IT. crimes have been beyond the pow
ct OF words to express, and from the
beginning the war has been . definite
long planned attempt to conquer and
loot ths world.
Practically oil Germans, from those
who cit on the throne to the peasant,
the whole German race, with only
here and there . shining exception,
is guilty, and punishment should be
meted out to such criminals. Mercy to
them would be . crime against ctviIi-
nation and . disgrace to the memory
Of every man who has died In the
Gsht Of civilization against barbarism.
It 10 almost . reflection upon the
army OF the Confederacy and the su-
perb heroes of that struggle to use the
utter poverty OF the South in 1855 and
the fearful losses incurred, even for
the purpose Of contrasting the condi'
tions prevailing then with those In
Germany, - . reason why Germany
could bear the burden OF financial in
demnity which We insist is only q
reasonable price to make Germany
pay for Ito crimes.
Unpunlshed crime begets new crime
and IN unbeaten, unpublished Germany
would soon beget new wars and more
horrors through the years to come
Oermsny should be penallzed into H.
naacial and military weakness for d
Ieast fifty years to come, and then It.
punishment would be all too mild.
The American Defense Society ha
aow adopted the suggestion first mad
| ln The Manufscturers Record Of Aug
ust that Germany should be com
pelled to repudlate It's entire bonde'
Issue and all currency issued to pa.
for the war. This would put German.
In . position to meet the enormou
Ilndemnities that must be impose
upon her, and Il would be . most sue
cessful way to punish the entire peo