Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-21
Shared Blame for War With
"Junkers,'' Says Visiting
French Savant
REFORM A r AHEAD
Professor Fernand Baden.
sperger Likens Governmental
Change to That Of Firm

man 'tntelleCtuais, uo
could have put Germany into the war
The intellectuals are even more TO plane
lust as the Intelligent man who uses
his brains, his wit, his cunning 10 ac-
complish a dificult GRIM Is more cul-
pable than the stupid one who merely
suggested the crime.
That Is the opinion of DR.. Fernand
Baldensperger. professor OF compare
tive literature of the University OF
Paris, who is a Philadelphia guest TO-
day and was interviewed at the union
League, where he Is stopping.
DR.. Baldensperger spent two years as
a captain in the French Army in'ehi-
renee Department before he came 10
this country two years ago, ana Ms
s.perience in examining German prison.
ers and the literature they carried gave
him ample opportunity to study the &C.
~tiyities of the German 'intellectuais.
Yet long before the war began, ne saio'
ne visited Germany and there saw clear
ly how German writer's were ieaoins
the masses.
Reform win Take Generations
'"They we're so effectively led" said
DR.. Baldensperger, that 1t will require
one generation at least and probably
several to make them worthy OF the
other nations trust and worthy OF any
intimate association or relationship with
other nations.
The change of the German nations
form OF government Is like the chang
ing of a firms name after the Arm IT.
self has committed some act or pursued
a policy which has alienated the faith
and respect of its patrons. The firm
may reform, but not In a day. Changes
in the thought, the philosophy and moral
attitude of q nation cannot be changed
merely by changing the form OF govern
ment.
I'VE may have a commission to see
to IL that Germany complies with and
carries out the terms Of the military
armistice; a commission to make sure
that Germany delivers the submarines
to the Allies as she promised to do so
but we need and need just as much, II
not more, a commission to learn whether
or not there has been the beginning OF
a change in the German attitude toward
the rest of the world, a change In the
German mind and moral nature. we
need a commission to learn whether
Germany is still preaching to itself and
to It's people that Germans are the kings
of the earth that the Americans are a
nation Of db~llar-chasers that the Eng
fish are a nation of degenerate drunk
ards, that the French are a nation OF
degenerate pleasure-seekers."
Evils Of German Republic
Doctor Baidenspsrser went even
farther than to declare the German ma
ton must undergo a change. OF heart
as we'll as one of governmental form
before It can be really accepted. He
declared that a German republic. IL its
people remain selfish. greedy, brutal. un
moral and immoral. has greater 20
tenttiality for evil than a German mon
archy whose ruling clique Is selfish
: greedy, brutal, immoral and immoral.
THE intellectual leaders Of German!
have made the doctrine of brutality
greed and world empire the doctrine o.
the people. The junkers could not d.
tina They did not know how. The,
did not ave brains enough. They sim
ply conceived the idea-and / do no
know that they conceived 1T. The intel
lectuals have been SO thoroughly asso
ciated with II from the very beginning
that It is just as likely that the origi
nal idea was conceived by the intel
lectuals and that the junkers themselve
are the result of the intellectuals' nc
tivity. Evi! and wrong al was tn
whole policy Of greed and selfishnes
and world dominion, II was a broa,
conception. That cannot be denied. tn
devil Is broad In his conceptions an
ambitions. The junkers themselves ar
ing in vision, to develop such scheme
as world dominion"
Change of Thought Preceded War
DR.. Baldensperger said he studied 4
Heidelberg In 1891 and when he ~returne
to Germany in 1907 to examine som
archives at Weimar he saw clearly tn
trend of thought that resulted In tn
war. His story of his visit to Vienna
contained an incident n a sequel tina
illustrated effectively what he was try
ing to show.
"The keeper of the archives" he sale
was N old-fashioned German gentle
man. 1 spent a. week there and h
showed me consideration always. TIL
first day he said alphabetically and UT
happily. 4 should like to ask you to B
my guest at home while you are her
but l annot My wife is dead and
have no home and my sons-I cam
understand them, but i can't entertai
you in their homes
"He went on to say that the sor
seemed to take constantly a view OF III
SO different from his own that there "a
no harmony between them. They wei
QGNOtto ~ Lie Otlo Vi
brutality. the exploitation Of the wes
for the benefit of the strong. i tried
console him. saying that II was not III
common for such breaks In thought
occur between generations. But he sa
it was more than that. The change WI
apparent, he said. all through German
and he feared for its results.
"A few weeks later. when ] was bat
in France. 1 learned hat that man hs
committed suicide.
DR.. Baldensperger has been appoint,
by the French Government to sper
three more years lecturing In III
country, bringing America to a great
understanding Of French philosophy al
letters.
This morning he visited the Germa,
town Friends School. and then hi
luncheon with Stanley r. Yarnall, pri
cipal of the school. Mr.. Yarnall to,
him to Haverford College, where
was entertained by President Comic
and the faculty.
Tonight the French Department
Temple University will give a dim
for the visitor. which will be follow
by a play given In the ballroom OF I
Bellevue-Strrtford by lie Cercle Fra
caise of Temple University. DR.. Bal
ensperger will give an address aft
the play.
I5SBoys and CirlsGW