Evening star., 1919-05-14
The Kaiser's Successors.

IN FORMER Gays IrOm tlne To tlue q
peaceful world heard the saber rat
Ting in Berlin. The "war lord" of
Germany in frequent addresses to his
people told them of Germany's glori.
Gus destiny to extend her power and
domain. His antics and loud boastings
were rated as but the show of an ego,
maniac who must be permitted to per
form for his own diversion and for the
pleasure of his subjects. Later the
world was to realize with bitterness
how false was this diagnosis of a dis
eased system. War was suddenly be
gun in execution of what now is plain
as fully planned scheme of conquest
It was conducted with abominable dis
regard of all rights and of all law
1t was in its inception and the manner
of its prosecution the greatest crime
in history.
Fortunately, the forces of ciyiliza-
tion, rallying to common defense, con-
fronted the unholy alliance led by Ger
many and after more than four awful
years of loss and suffering unspeakable
the forces of evil were defeated. The
arch criminal whose ambitions had
precipitated the catastrophe fed to
Holland, his country became the scene
of revolution and the allies assembled
to devise terms of peace commensurate
with the magnitude Of the crime.
Those peace terms have been framed,
and have been presented to delegates
of Germany, summoned to receive
them. They have been hailed with
approval-save in some details af-
fecting particular interests-in all
lands but those of the enemy. The
fundamental principles of justice have
been preserved. Precautions have been
taken to prevent repetitions of the
crime of 1914. Punishments and
separations have been provided for and
care has been exercised to enable the
enemy people to maintain themselves
while paying the bill of costs rendered
against them.
But in Germany the treaty is de-
nounced as murderous, barbarous,
monstrous, as delivering the German
people into perpetual serfdom, as con-
stituting Germany a Jail from which
there is no hope of escape. The presi-
dent of the republic has scored it. The
chancellor in an address before the
national assembly has declared it un-
acceptable. A deliberate effort to work
the people up to heroic mood Of sac
fi6ee is evident.
Ebert and Scheidemann should be-
ware Of the consequences of their ut
terances. They are rattling the saber
even as William did in the past They
are seeking to arouse the belligerence
Of the people. They are trying to
bring about rejection, with the ap-
palling consequence Of renewed war
fare in which Germany can have no
possible chance of victory, which must
inevitably crush the country and which
will lead to the imposition of terms
even more harsh than those presented
at Versailles.
Plainly the war and it's ending in
>nv,nJata dafoot boyo $a,rb@ +bo t.,
man. leaders nothing. They are not
convinced of the unrighteousness of
the conflict or the denominations of its
conduct. They are unconscious of the
fact that Germany stands condemned,
q prisoner at the bar of world justice.
They either seek petty political ad-
vantage by their present pose of in
dignation and horror at the terms i'm
posed, or they are deliberately seeking
to throw the world again into turmoil
to the end Of promoting anarchy.
No distinct warning can well be
given by the allied representatives in
Paris as to the consequences of rejec-
tion, for they must formally proceed
upon the basis of a presumption that
Germany will sign. But they can take
and they have taken precautions They
have maintained an armed force east
Of the Rhine ready for instant ad-
vance; they have arranged for a naval
descent upon the seacoast; they have
made all possible provisions for COM
plete blockade of Germany.
Yet in some way it should be made
plain from Paris that those who now
preach rejection and defiance in Ger
many will be held accountable for the
renewal Of the war if their advice is
followed and the terms are refused.
For upon these men now rests the re-
sponsibility Of decision and upon their
decision rests in turn the fate of Ger
many. Renewal of the war could have
but one end, the complete defeat of
the misguided enemy. 1t should, how
ever, also bring direct punishment for
those who are following in the foot
steps Of the kaiser and preaching war
to their people.