The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-03

parties until the most that could be
said for the Republican party was
THAI II probably had majority of the
German American vote.
Three years ago the Republicans
attempted to recover German Ameri-
can voters who had strayed away
from the corral by nominating a
russyfeot candidate for president and
cenouncing President Wilson for
Championing American rights and the
rules of civilized warfare, without
Venturing to say what could or ought
to have been done instead of what
the president did. The scheme failed.
President Wilson was reelected by
handsome majority, the American
people stood by the president who had
stood by them. Another opportunity
to recover the German-Amerfcan vote
is seen by the Republican leaders,
and Senator Knox Is put forward to
open up the German propaganda.
Last spring Senator Knox, care
| fully feeling his way. only ventured
to attack certain features of the
league of nations. He would not
even denounce league. He out
Lined one that he would subscribe to.
Later he grew holder and denounced
the league in terms that would an
AABtIilSS any iedSu e "udlPSEE. NOW
he throws off his disguise, drops all
pettifogging about the league. at
tacks the peace treaty because 1t is
harsh and cruel to the Germans, and
demands that the United States COM
NIT the unspeakahle infamy of de-
sorting the notions with which it
fought against German harbarism.
and make a separate peace with Ger
many in order to get German trade
that might be divided between Eng
land, France and Italy.
On April 3, 1917, the president was
entirely justified in assuming that the
+ German people were not responsible
! Tor what the imperial government
did, and in bidding for the friendly
feelings OF the German people, while
recognizing state of war with the
German emperor. But it Is no longer
possible to do that in good faith.
The German people nave so heartily
supported the imperial government in
everything. in the precipitation OF the
war and in the management of it,
that no one can longer pretend to dis
eliminate between people and kaiser
The people turned against the kaiser
only because he got beaten They
have justified everything he did
!, They have denounced the suggestion
CT putting him on trial for his
crimes. They still keep secret the
archieves that would convict him even
ct home of plotting the war. and they
have restored tie Imperial, nomen-
; clature. The RaNariaft. army has Just
Been turned over to the central gov
, eminent, which under the empire
4 controlled it nnRy IN the event :of
war. The peace terms are not so
harsh and crue, as those Germany
! imposed on Russia and Rumania The
reparation exacted is insufficient ia
J restore France and Belgium. The
industrial and maritime exaetione
are moderate in view of the destruc-
ton OF the industries and shipping
of the world which the German
~ eople repeatedly and formally de-
! handed of the imperial government
which they feared might make peace
|, on terms that would permit, the allied
, nations to exist.
We did not conquer Germany alone
We conquered Germany in associa
ton with England. France and italy
Mfr, Knoxs proposal that we shall
now desert them and make n separate
peace is the most infamous proposal
that has been made in America since
the days of Aaron Burr.
II Next year we may expect the Ger
man American alliance under its
new name to nominate Philander
Chase Knox, of Pennsylvania, for
president on a Platform Of Colt nit
lrns"