Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-16
THE DEGRADATION OF CHILDHOOD WOMANHOoD BY GERMANY
(From Address by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw
16 tn HE moral condition of nation can be

(From an Address by DR.. Anna Howard Shaw
GGT HE moral condition of nation can be
but the result of the morality pre-
vailing among the individuals who
compose it and the method of the express
ions of this morality is matter of environ
ment. Since moral codes not inherited through
organic, but rather through social heredty
which all the people composing the group
scousy unconsciously contribute, it is therefore
impossible to discuss, much less to measure the
moral and degrading influences of mitarism and
after all that militarism stands for upon the char
acter of women and children without including in
the indictment it's degeneratng effects upon men.
Nor is it possible to listen to the authenticated
citals of the ndecencies and atrocities perpetraed
upon the women and children of the territories
Overrun by the armies dominated by Prussian mill
tary legions without realizing that those unthink
able offenses and crimes against all the ideals of
decency and humanity did not have their rise in
moment of war-maddening fury, but they the
results of the degrading ideals which undere and
give birth to the spirit of militarsm wherever it
controls the life of people.
1T is unnecessary to repeat the shocking de-
tails of the atrocities inflicted upon women and
children of Belgium Flanders, Poland, Armenia, to
realize the debasing effect of militarism from
in times of hatred and war. But we must admit
that such violation of right such cruel barbarism,
could be impossible only the result of moral de-
linquencies in times of peace The whole trend OF
miitarism, exemplifed in the Prussianism OF to-
day, is to silence all moral and spiritual aspira-
tions in national life. The emphasis placed upon
large birth rate for the purpose of increasing the
military power and material strength of the empire
without regard to ethical laws of social life, as
of children bereft of home influences and moral
ideals-children who taught from their earliest
infancy in institutions which their only home
the lessons of national pride and national glory
and strict obedience. to autocrac rulers and ad
dition to that hatred and contempt for the people
of all other lands. This is all the evidence needed
to prove the moral and spiritual degencracy of
people controlled by system which finds its ex-
preston in the frightfulness which has made of
vast part of Europe barren waste and of indus
trious and peace-loving people slaves refugees
from their land and their homes.
I'VE might exclude the mass of German peo-
pie from the indictment were 1t not that the most
atrocious crimes of the war have been, by vast
multitudes of people, acclaimed with wild shouts
of victory and rejoicing, and that even in the sink
ing of the Lusitania with its women and its chill
dren and its men, they could strike medal in hon
or of a crime so base. That the educated and in
fluential classes apparently Indifferent to these
acts of cruelty, accepting them without repugnance
or protest proves that the poison of military neces
sity and military arrogance has permeated all Prus
sian life There is escaping the fact that the
whole nation, with its false ideals Of what consti-
tutes culture. must bear the stigma of its shame
and moral degeneration.
Germany has outraged all that civilization has
done for the world for thousands of years; in fact
it is beyond question that the conduct of the Ger
man nation during this war proves that the kind OF
culture which expresses itself in the violation OF
national treaties. ignores every rule OF war gloreS
in the mutilation of innocent children, in the
sassination and worse than slavery of women and
violates every principle of honor, such course OF
education is malicious and degrading
'It is not enough that Germany shall be defeat
ed in battle or conquered by hunger. She must be
shown the truth, that the world will no longer per-
nit any people to hold over-rated power which
threatens its peace or paralyzes the processes Of
civilization.
But whatever mistakes we have made in the
past however we may have underestimate Ger
many's desire to crush the democratic ideals of the
world, now that that purpose is known it must be