The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-06-19

tabled to stir up international rebel
lion and even to make secret often
sive preparations within the territory
of their neighbors, whereby the!
might when the moment came, strike
them down with greater certainty
and ease. They kept Europe in a
ferment by threats of violence and
when they found that their neigh
bors were resolved to resist their ar
rogant will, they determined to as
sert their predominence in Europe
by force.
"As soon as their preparations
were complete they encouraged a
subservient ally to declare war on
Serbia on forty-eight hours notice
war involving the control OF the
Balkans, which they knew could not
be localized and which was bound to
| Qncnaln general "ai.
"In order to make doubly sure,
they refused every attempt at con-
ciliation and conference until it was
too late and the world war was in
evitable, for which they had plotted
and for which, alone, among the ma
tions. they were adequately equipped
and prepared.
"Germany's responsibility, how
ever, is not confined to having plan
ned and started the war. She is no
LESS responsible for the savage and
inhuman manner in which it was
conducted. Though Germany was
herself the guaranty of Belgium
Germany violated the rules after a
solemn promise to respect the neu-
trality of this unofending people.
"Not content with this, they dellb-
erately carried out a series OF pro-
miscuous shootings and burnings
with the sole object of terrifying the
inhabitants into submission by the
very frightfulness of their action
They were the first to use poisonous
gas, knowing the appalling suffering
| it entailed. They began the bombing
and long distance shelling OF towns
for no military object but solely Tor
the purpose of reducing the morale
of their opponents by striking at
their women and children.
"They commenced the submarine
campaign, with its piratical chal-
lenee to international law and its
destruction of great numbers of IN
nocent passengers and sailors in mid
ocean, far from succor, at the mercy
of the winds and the waves and yet
more ruthless submarine crews. They
drove thousands of women and chill
dren with brutal savagery into slaH'
cry in foreign lands; they allowed
barbarities to be practiced against
their prisoners of war, from which
the most uncivilized people would
have been recoiled.
"sThe conduct of Germany is al
most unexampled in human history.
The terrible responsibility which lies
at her doors can be seen by the fact
that not less than seven million dead
lie buried in Europe, while more than
twenty million others carry upon
them the evidence of wounds and
suffering, because Germany saw mt
to crafty her lust for tyranny by
resort to war.
"The Allied and associated powers
believe that they will be false to
those who have given their all? All
to save the freedom of the world If
they consent to treat war on any
other basis than as a crime against
humanity and right.
"This attitude of the Allied and
associated powers was made perfect
ly clear to Germany during the war
by their principal statesmen. 1t was
defined by President Wilson in his
speech Of April 6, 1918, and explicit
ly and categorically accepted by the
German people as a principle cover
ing the peace-let everything that
we say, my fellow countrymen,
everything that we henceforth plan
and accomplish, ring true to this re-
sponse, till the majesty and might OF
our concerted power shall fill the
thought and utterly defeat the force
of those who fout and misprize
what we honor and hold dear. Ger
many has once more said that force
and force alone, shall decide wheth-
er justice and peace shall reign in
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