The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-05-15
GERMAN PRESIDENT
PLEADS FOR MERCY
OF UNITED STATES
EBERT SEEKS TREATMENT DE
MED SMALL NATIONS OP-
PRESSED BY HUNS

Berlin, Sunday, May 11.-By the AS
suciated Press-DelayeO.- Declaring
that the terms of peace presented by
the allied and associated governments
to Germany. contemplate the physical
moral and intellectual paralysis of the
German people; that Germans We're
"hyphonized" by statements made by
President Wilson, and that he, himself
is looking forward to the future with
gravcst apprehensionS' President Eb-
ert said today that he stiil hopeo that
American democracy would not accept
the treaty framed ut the peace con
ference He rejected with disdain the
suggestion that the present German
government would resign rather than
accept or reject the terms, saying that
the government would hold out to the
end"
"When in the course of two thousand
years. he asked. was ever a peace
offered a defeated people which SO com
pletely contemplated its physical, moral
and intellectual paralysis as do the
terms onunciated at Versailles?
In his message to congress Deccm
Der i, 1915 President Wilson said: The
frightful injustice committed in the
course of this war must not be made
good by wishing a similar injustice on
/ Germany and her allies. The world
would not tolerate the commission of
Il similar injustice as reprisal and re-
alignment I'm his message to con-
| gress referred to in the foregoing para
| graph delivered when he asked that
a state of war be declared to exist be
tween the United States and Austria
| Hungary, President Wilson said: The
WRONGS, the very deep wrongs com
mitted in this war must be righted.
That Of course. But they cannot and
must not be righted by the commission
of similar wrongs against Germany and
her allies. The world will not permit
the commission of similar wrongs as a
means Of reparation and settlement y
The German people" President Ebert
continued, "is only beginning to awake
| from the hypotism to which it has been
| lulled because of its solid faith in the
sincerity and truthfulness of Mr.. Will
sons program and his fourteen points.
The awakening will be terrifying and
we all look forward to it with gray
cold, naked realities we still consciously
cling to the faith which found its cpl
tome in the names of Wilson and the
United States and the conception of the
democracy Of the league of nations.
I'VE cannot believe that this has
all been an illusion and that the conf
dence and hopes of whole people have
been duped in u manner unknown TO
history. Even now optimists are say
ing Wilson will not permit; he dares
not possibly permit it"
The president added that he and his
party could not blame the pan-Germans
on the "immodest haste with which they
are digging up their former speeches
and editorials in which the social demo
Gratis and other liberals We're ridiculed
FOR their belief in President Wilson 5
Program"
Il and my colleagues" he said, in
conclusion, upon whom rests the ter
rifle burden of the forthcoming decisions
hope and pray the German people who
stalled all on President Wilson and
the United States shall not find them
selves deceived. If, however, the Am
erican democracy actually accepts the
present peace terms, as its own, it be-
comes an accomplice ana an abettor
of politiial blarkmailers: it surrenders
the traditional American principle of
fair play and sportmanship and trails
the ideals of true democracy in the dust.
Notwithstanding the night now covering
II, have an abiding faith in the future
of the German people and in the uncon-
querability of its soul. This people,
which has given the world so much in
science. learning and industry must
not go down to oblivion. 1t still has a
cultural mission to perform and ethical
treasures TO bestow."