Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-26
Peace With The Germans

@. Are we at war with the German
people?
A. We wish to be at peace with the
German people, bue we are at war
with the German empire. That is, we
are at war with the government which
controls the German nation. The Ger
man nation proclaims itself to be the
German army. The German nation is
composed Of the German people. Our
army is fighting the German army.
Yes. we are at war with the German
people.
@. Why do we fight them?
A. Because they support and obey
the German government which muir
dered American citizens, and pro-
claimed its intention to continue muir
dering American citizens unless we
changed our laws in such a way as
would assist the German empire to
conquer all opposition and become a
power ruling the world. We fight the
German people in order to have our
capitol in Washington and not in Bes-
lin.
@. Why do the German people ops
nose us in this natural right and de-
sire? !:
A. Because they are obedient to the
orders of their leaders. They have been
carefully trained to obedience.
@. Are they so obedient that they
would fight if they believed their lead
ers to be in the wrong?
A. Not with the fervor shown by
the German people in this war.
@. Then the German people believe
themselves to be fighting for right
and just cause?
A. PROFESSIONALLY.
@. How canSthat be, since they are
| fighting US because we would not al
| low them to rob us of our rights!
A. They believed that our rights
were injurious to Germany.
@. Then they respect no rights ex
cept those which are beneficial tt
Germany?
A. They respect no rights excep
those which they consider beneficial tt
Germany.
u, DO lut dVi LidA PSoPAS SSe-S'
this to be selfish state OF mind!
A. No. They call it patriotism, ant
If inspires them individually to maxi
heroic sacrifices.
@. But collectively, do such IDEAL
make a noble country?
A. No; the individual sacrifices nm
self in order that the conduct OF III
country may be lawless, ignoble ant
malevolent.
@ But does the individual Germal
regard the conduct OF this country a
ignoble and malevolent?
A. No He believes it to be divine
@. How can that be?
A. His leaders have given him in
terpretations of so-called moral law
which direct him to that belief. He &C
cents as supreme leader a perso
called a War Lord" who proclaim
himself to be actually the mouthpiec
of a god. In addition, the Germa
leaders have carefully taught the pee
ple to believe that right and wront
internationally, are questions to D
submitted to the one test: Whateve
works to the material disadvantage G
Germany Is DOtH Spiritually anu AA1"eSA
tally wrong; whatever works to tn
material advantage of Germany Is bot
spiritually and materially right.
O. Have the German people accep,
ed this standard?
A.. They have accepted it.
= @. But do they not see that such
.. standard, if allowed to prevail, mean
servitude to Germany on the part
the rest Of the world?
A. Their leaders desire to brin
about such a servitude and belle,
3 that their own merits warrant it. tn
D people worship their leaders and ca
= them 1.-The state"
z O. But will not the German Peep
some day reject such standard I
e right and wrong?
I A. Our soldiers are fighting them
' order TO hasten that day.
: @. What would prove 10 the &c
e man people that their standard
wrong!