Evening star., 1918-06-10
q. s. Kept Watch Before War.

Il Illnk Indt l InlS nL say, however
that for a long time before 1t was
considered wise to make the facts
public the American government, pos
sessing evidence of their improper
conduct. kept constant watch over
these conspirators who depended upon
the innocent credulity of those
idiotic Yankees as Capt. Won Papen
sneeringly called us. These complac-
ent plotters little suspected how much
was known of the activities of the
German embassy in Washington. the
military agency in New York. the
numerous spies in German employ by
those whom they thought they were
deluding. These agents credited the
miscarriage Of many of their schemes
to chance, which had they known the
true cause would have given them
some very indigestible food for
thought.
TN view Of this spirit of hypocrisy
and bad faith manifesting an entire
lack of conscience we ought not to be
astonished that the Berlin foreign Of
flee never permitted a promise or a
treaty engagement to stand in the
way of a course of action which the
German government deemed expedi-
ent. I need not cite as proof of this
fact the fiagrant violations of the
treaty neutralizing Belgium and the
recent treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This
discreditable characteristic of the Ger
man foreign policy was accepted by
German diplomats as a matter of
course and as natural, IL not a
praiseworthy. method of dealing with
other governments. Frederick the
Great with cynical frankness once
said: II there is anything to be gain
ed by it, we will be honest. II de-
ception is necessary, let us be cheats
That is in brief the immoral prin-
ciple which has controlled the for
eign relations of Prussia for over a
hundred and fifty years.
ut is fact not generally known
that within six weeks after the inn
perial government had. in the case of
the Sussex given to this government
Its solemn promise that it would
cease ruthless slaughter on the high
seas, Count Bernstorff. appreciating
asked the Berlin foreign office to ad.
wise him in ample time before the
campaign of submarine murder was
renewed in order that he might notify
the German merchant ships in Amer
cry because he anticipated that the
renewal of that method Of warfare
would In all probability bring the
United States into the war.
Knew Promises Worthless.
How well the ambassador knew the
character of his government. and
how perfectly frank he was! He ask
ed for the Information without apol-
ogy or indirection. The very blunt
ness of his message shows that he
was sure that his superiors would
not take offense at the assumption
that their word was valueless and had
only been given ITO gain time. and
that, when an increase of Germany's
submarine fleet warranted, the prom
Use would be broken without hesita-
tlon or compupction. What a com.
mentary on Fernstorn's estimate Of
the sense OF honor and good faith of
his own government!
Before this war began we would
not have thought any government on
earth capable of such Indifference to
truth. We admit that we have been
the dupes Of the military CLIQUE in
Berlin because dishonesty of this sort
seemed to US inconceivable in these
days of international honor and Chris
tian civilization. But I believe that
the nations, and am certain that the
United States, will never again be
caught in net Of duplicity equal to
that which was spread all over the
world by the Berlin government. We
have learned our lesson and 1t has
cost us dear. We will never have to
learn 1T again.
Pagan Philosophy.
"In this consideration of Prussian-
ism with It's pagan philosophy and its
perversion Of the German mind shall
not attempt to enter upon a recital of
the horrible brdtalities perpetrated by
the German armies in the prosecution
of the war. They have been too often
told to require repetition. 1t would
be the needless reading of catalogue
Of black deeds Of cruelty. which would
sicken a tiger, by nation which
claims not only to be moral. and pos
sessed Of humane sentiments. but to
be actually commissioned by the Su-
tpreme Being to carry out His will
only mention them here as further
manifestation Of the revival in Ger
| many of the alteration of brute
strength and pitiless war and of the
subordination of every noble instinct
| to the heartless materialism of the
ruling class who seek only power
and possessions without regard to the
| means by which they are attained. In
| word. to show what Prussianism
means when translated into action.
But we ought not to be surprised
at these terrible manifestations of
| frightfulness in view of the past
record Of Prussia. 1t was Goethe,
think, who said. the Prussians are
naturally cruel; civilization will make
| them ferocious.' 1t has made them
| ferocious. Acquired science merely
gave them increased ingenuity In the
l Indulgence of their passion for cru
/ eItv Let ma read Won an extract from