Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10
Outraged World Demands It.

greater, Germany with her unravaged
lands. or those countries whose lands
war in the good old tribal way. The
war of determination. She has hurried
to make peace as soon as there was
any chance of her own lands being
devastated, her own population har-
ried. her own factories destroyed.
Brutality and cowardice have walked
hand in hand in Germany's procedure.
You cannot cure a brute if you al
low him to actually profit by his bru-
tality. 1t is said that Germany will
be sullen if she be punished at all
and that therefore she should be for
given that she may be cheerful. Well,
II 1t be SO. if justice be construed by
Germany into punishment and She
therefore becomes sullen it will be
but an evidence that we had better
deal with a sullen Germany in the
future than with an arrogant one
But Germany will not be sullen. Those
who know their Germany, who know
the temperament and the racial traits
of the inha bitants of Germany, know
very well that they are not of that
nature.
Either Arrogant or Cringing.
Germany to the end of time will be
either arrogant or cringing. Her peo-
pie are of nature which CONSTITUTES
courtesy as concession. Which bows
unreasoningly to authority. Which is
incapable of understanding liberty
under self-imposed law. To seek to
propitiate Germany lest she be suIlen
is a proposal which falls into that
category in which history Classics
those evidences of national weakness
which have marked the gradual de-
generation and ultimate extinction of
nations or submerging of peoples.
Where law fails of enforcement from
SupinenesS, subservience or .Corrup-
ZION on the part of those called upon
10 administer its provisions and JUS
tice fails to be done for some reason
assimilated to fear of consequences,
the social fabric disintegrates. Where
a nation having the power fails to en-
force a just peace, her foe is strength
ened.
1t is we'll known that an element in
this country favors the creation of 4
league of nations. coincident with the
termination of the war, of which
Germany shall be one, with, as a
corollary. that Germany shall be en-
titled to equal treatment as we'll in
the receipt of an apportioned share
of raw materials as also in respect to
freedom of trade. Such disposition
"f the affairs of the world will not be
just one.
Likened to Personal Crime.
4 national crirne-a crime commit
ted by a nation-does not vary either
in its essential elements or in any at
tribute. or aspect from the same crime
committed by an individual except in
mere bulk. The same motive impels.
{ The same act is done. The same in
! jury is inflicted If. at the point
. where appropriate punishment should
appear upon the scene. that element
!, be lacking. the same consequences
follow that would follow the nom
punishment of individual criminals.
There is a sort of general obsession
; to the effect that a crime committed
by a nation is not the same in quail
ity or essence as one committed by
an individual.
There is neither logic nor morality
: IN such a view. neither is it historic
. ally correct Punishment for national
crime has only failed of enforcement
to the extent to which power has
been lacking. If Germany escapes
making reparation in any one direc-
tion, or in several. or many directions
in the present instance. it will be
from lack of power on the part of the
-allies-Ffance, Great Britain and
Italy.
Such hack Of power win necessarily
arise from q lack Of those nations
being fully sustained by this country,
through . curious weak and mushy
seatarnanGaaity which fails to recoS-