The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-01-09
WATCH n ENEMY

Washington Post-Is it not a little
premature for Americans to celebrate
peace with Germany? Are they sure
that the wild beast is tanned as well
as shackled? The proposition to feed
Germany, because Germany appears
to be reformed and harmless, is GER
tainly startling. There should be
some more convincing evidence Of
Germany's reformation before the peo-
pie of the United States begin to ex-
pend their sympathy upon the people
who but lately were celebrating the
slaughter Of ONE and children.
The Russians are natural friends of
Americans, and now the Russian poo
pie by millions are facing death by
starvation. Where is the agonizing
wall for them? Where is the DR.. Solf
who appeals frantically for food for
the Russians? Russia was one of the
allies and despite the devilish schemes
Of the Germans and the bolsheviki,
Russia is still at heart friendly to
America and determined to find the
road to ordered liberty. Yet even in
Russia there is war, and American
soldiers nay be in that country for
many months before peace is finally
attained. If the Germans are success
full in some of their plans, the Rus
sian %bolsheviki will make Russia a
caldron of hellbroth for years to ONE.
The allied troops are there to aid the
Russians to extricate themselves from
the net of the Germans. But the boil
sheviki are such a stubborn combina-
tioD of stupidity, malevolence and
treason, and the opportunities for Ger
man intrigue are SO numerous, that
the allies are badly handicapped in
their work of reconstruction in Russia.
Who is so confident of the genuine
ness of German reform that he can as
sert that the Germans have ceased
their propaganda in Russia? Who
can show that the Germans are actual
ly, in good faith, preparing to move
out of Russia, bag and baggage? For
ouC pECCC vi oupCl hSiol ONIoChSO Aitot
eating that the Germans are recon
ciled to the loss Of Russia, there can
be brought a dozen pieces of absolute
proof that powerful German interests
are at this moment hurriedly extend
ing their grasp in Russia, with no Wis
ible intention of complying with the
terms of the armistice, in letter OF in
spirit. Under the disguise of individ,
ual action, under financial transac-
tons apparently innocent, the Ger,
mans are rapidly absorbing all that is
worth while in Russia.
Before jumping to the conclusion
that the present armistice necessari-
ly means immediate satisfactory peace
with the enemy, 1t should be borne in
mind that during the last four years
every official act of the persons repre-,
senting Germany in any capacity has
been an act of fraud, evasion, false
hood and crime. Germany has built
up a standard of consistent dishonor
that cannot be destroyed in a moment
The world has paid a terrible price
l in life and property for. the lesson II
, was forced to learn-the lesson that
1 Germany was destitute Of honor OF
| word or deed. Is that lesson now tc
be forgotten, merely because the Ger
mans take on the appearance OF a free
people and send out frantic appeals
r for food? How free are they, anc
how comes 1t that they are free? Why
are they hungry? If they should SET
a chance to deal a treacherous blow
would the change of government stoI
:, them? II they could rob other PEG
pies of food, would they not do it
Their appeal itself has in 1t a ruth
less selishness that gives no heed t.
the greater sufferings of nations tina
they lately ravaged.
Bolshevism may work havoc in Gel
, many. One Of the arguments ad
vanced in favor Of granting succor t.
the Germans is that it will save then
from bolshevism and thus enable then
to establish ordered government AM
/ 60 ahead with the work OF repayinl
their debt to nations they outraged
d That is a plausible arguments
plausible. indeed. that it may hav'
h been made In Germany. Certainly tn
Germans will not be slow to utilize II
and perhaps at this moment the dumb