Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-05-22
FACTS AND COMMENT


point where the stricken people can
become self supporting; the other isl
to keep Germany from enriching her
self by supplying her victims with the
goods that she deliberately destroyed.
No one who has not. been in, the de-
vastated regions can have the faint
est picture of conditions there. The
discharged soldier returns to nnd mott
only his house a heap of dust but
his field torn up with shellfire. stones
and gravel in place of the rich soil
that generations of cultivation had
produced, stock all driven off, tools
stolen or destroyed the planting sea-
son upon him and no possible way to
make a start. Z The factory worker
just back from the army finds per-
haps the bare walls of the old plant
The machinery is all gone, part de-
stroyed and the rest already set up in
Germany. The miner finds shafts and
coalpits flooded. Subterranean lakes
must be pumped dry before the work
of restoration can begin and there are
no pumps at hand Meantime Ger
many with industries intact would de-
light to manufacture and sell, and thus
profit from the destruction that she
herself has caused.
| The diabolicaI feature Of THE whole
the now defeated roboer nation plan
ned it, expecting to win the war in
dustrially even though it might be lost
on the field of battle. Indeed as it is
now becoming clear most of the de-
liberate confsoation and destruction
was ordered after the general staff
knew that their armies could not win.
Thus it is fairness and not revenge
that has put into the peace terms the
demands that COWS and sheep, ma
chimes and ships shall be handed over
to replace those that have been stolen
or destroyed Only in this way will it
be brought home to- the Germans what
they have done to their victims.
Throughout the land the cry is going
up that the loss of their COWS means
no milk for their babies, Rather
| should it be a cause for devout thanks
giving that the COWS are not taken
from their burning barns and that
| their own families are left with a roof
over their heads Some of the kind
| Hest people in other lands deeply re-
greet that some part at least of Ger
| many was not rayaged by fire and
! sword, and this feeling is not a feeling
| of revenge. Second. thought. how
| ever, causes a feeling of %thankfulness
that our soldiers found their duty in
| fighting with armies, and not in pillag-
ing homesteads.. The latter though
undeniably mcrited by the Germans,
| could not have failed to exert debas-
! ing influence on those who must have
| done the work of destruction. Per-
l,haps after ALL the orderly confisca-
| ton of the property for the purpose of
| restocking their victims may have
an effect quite as salutary on the au-
| thors of the trouble.
Politicians are the same the world
| over. While the republicans in the
| United States senate are Striving des-
| perately to make rejection of the
| league of nations a party issue ire
| spective of the merits of the amended
| constitution. the party leaders in Ger
many are bent on effecting success for
| themselves and defeat for their oppon-
| ents out of their. country's- desperate
| internationals situation. Unrepentallt
though they are, 1t is slowly dawning
on the Germans that they must sign
| the treaty and pay the bills for their
four years of destruction. The lead
Ell weight that the allies were to drag
for generations in eXpiation of the
crime of warning against the father
land is destined to be Germany's to
drag for years to come. The Ebert
Scheidemann administration would
| avoid the odiunl Of signing the treaty
yet still more does it dread by refus-
ing the terms to bring Marshal Foth
and his armies vet deeper into Ger
many. Meantime tie independent, so
ciaIists sit tight and enjoy the admin
Iistrationn's dilemma. knowing full well
that its days are numbered.
One month was allowed to the Ger.
mans in which to decide whether to
Eaccept or reject the peace terms. Nc
notifications will be permitted and nc
haggiing over the terms will be toler-
ated Several notes have been sub
nitted by the German peace delega-
ton, in which has been pointed out
the impossibility that Germany could
pay as much has been demanded OF
even continue to exist under the pro-
posed terms To all of these the al
lies have responded. calling attention
to the fact that they themselves have
managed to get along under the diff
culties imposed on them by the war
and showing no intention of altering
their demands in the. least. Instead
of that, they have sent General Focf
to the Rhine and are evidently ready
to resume the war in case the terms
are not accepted en- bloc. In the face
of Hindcnburg's public declaration
| that Germany is utterly Incapable o.
l
the six German signatures will be at
tached to the treaty on or before TIL,
fatal seventh Of June.
| The 6eth congress met on Monday il
| special session as summoned by Pres.
ident Wilson in a cabled messag,
from Paris. For the first time in si1
years the republican party is in con.
troll in both branches. In the hous,
they are 80 to the good but in the sen
ate the majority is only two no
| enough to be safe when. it is renlem
bered that there are a number of ou
J and out progressiveS among the repub
lican senators. The party can dt
nothing without them and it remains
to be seen whether they will do any
thing with them. Certainly mo indi
cation of a conciliatory spirit on thu
part of the old guard was shown il
the first days proceedings. The pro
| gressives are ready for a fight, ant
knowing that the fate of republica,
legislation lies n:their hands they will
) not be obliged to make any conces
! sions to the regular republicans.
1t was in the Taff administration
that the republican party was wreck
ed by the obstinate refusal of it
| leaders to read correctly the signs o
| the times. With substantial MAORI
, ties and perfect organization follow
ing eight years of Roosevelts reso
lutte and inspiring leadership, a -repub
lican administration seemed assur
ed for term of years such as ha,
followed after the Civil war. Thi
confidence was the party's ruin. Feel
ing sure of their power. the leader
neglected their campaign promises
$ disregarded the popular desire TO
, a lower tariff and in general pursue,
course in legislation that Gale,
forth protests from within and indig
nation from without The steamroIle