The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-05

sign?" This question is universally
asked. The answer must be given
within a few days. The allies will
not give the enemy much latitude for
discussion of the peace terms. The
Huns will do their best to have the
terms mitigated. Their leading
spokesman, Herr Ebert, speaking as
president of the empire, whatever that
monstrosity may be, refers to the furor
Teutonicus that may be expected TO
sweep the country when the peace
terms are fully understood. But he
also pleads with the allies not to COM
pei Germany to sign the treaty, which
would be "a lie born of desperation"
He reminds us of President Wilson's
famous peace without victory au-
dress, and asks what has become of
the fourteen points.
If Germany should reject the treaty
and tell the allies to do their worst,
the result would he another treaty.
somewhat later, and great deal more
rigorous. Germany cannot expect to
escape punishment by befuddling the
diplomatic processes by which nations
make treaties. In the end there will
be peace treaty signed by surviving
Germans, and it will carry into effect
Huns now in control can do as they
choose They can increase the dim
cultes and sufferings Of Germans, or
they can make the best of bad bar
gain and begin the work of expiation
and reparation without delay Inc
most sensible course Is to sign the
treaty.
In some quarters fears are expressed
that the allies would find it difficult
to take control of Germany in case
the treaty should be rejected There
are apprehensions of bolshevism,
Sparticism, a refusal of the allied
armies to move, and so on. These ap-
prehensions are not well founded. The
truth is that in many respects the al
lies would be better off if the Ger
mans should refuse to sign. The free
nations must keep their grip on Ger
many for the next twenty-five years,
in any event. They cannot leave the
fulfillment of the treaty to German
good faith, for there is no such thing.
The indemntes upon which the in
jured nations depend must be collect
ed by the reparation commission, and
+ this commission must be backed by
| force. If it is not so supported the
Huns will surely repudiate. their OBJ
| legations and defy the commission.
Seeing that the allies must keep
their grip on Germany, it is obvious
that strong grip would be more eff.
fective than weak one. There Is
now an element of commiseration in
the allied countries, which is manifest
ed in such mischievous statements as
that emanating from the women's in
ternational meeting in Switzerland
This mistaken pity for the enemy
which closely resembles the maudlin
sympathy sometimes shown by per
verted spinsters for atrocious murder
ers, would entirely disappear if the
Huns should refuse to sign the treaty
and try to do more harm.
! No earthly power will save the Ger
mans from a terrible season Of retri
button. They have drawn down upon
themselves just punishment, and neith
er words nor acts will serve as means
Of escape from their period of bond
age to an outraged world. They them
selves forged the fetters that are tC
go around their wrists and ankles
They themselves, when they lighted
the fires and bombs in France and
Belgium, caused the conflagration oi
wealth which must now be repaid by
their own sweat for years and years
A fash of a knife may delight the
assassin for single fiendsh moment
but that ecstasy must be followed by
payment of the debt to man and ma
ture, either by death or long impris
onment. The Hun reveled in his de
bauch of lust, waste, crime and assas
sination of the innocent. Now he
must begin the work that will restore
the equilibrium.
Hundreds of thousands of German.
will try to dodge this debt. They are
already arranging to leave Germany
and come to America to escape thu
taxes that will burden the shoulder,
of every individual in Germany. 1t il
the duty of the United States to pu
up Hun-proof barbed wire entangle
ment at every port and to deport Il
Germany every stray Hun who man
ages to creep through during the mex
twenty-five years, or for such time al
the reparation commission may have
it's hand on Germany's throat. Othe
countries must keep the Huns from
their ports. Otherwise the able bodice
Germans, those who in many cases ar
individually guilty of the outrages tina
Germany must pay for, will throw th'
whole burden upon those remainin,
in Germany thus prolonging the periot
of payment and making full repaymen
more doubtful That cannot be toler
ated.
--W. 8. S.