Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-07
TRY Him Too

Z JON OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who was
V the Imperial German Chancellor at the
outbreak Of the war in 1914 and did not re-
linquish his post until acts of outlawry had
been committed which forced America to
enter the conflict has come forward with the
proposal that the allied governments put him
on trial and not the former Emperor. He
assumes full responsibility, the actual
head Of the German government, for all
policies and acts of that period and seeks to
vndicate William Hohenzollern of any guilt
in connection with initiating or prosecuting
the war.
The first half of the former Chancellor's
invitation should be accepted The allies
should arragn him before high court of
justice, and If he is guilty Of forcing the war
on Europe and the world. he should be made
to pay such price one human life can pay.
But the second half of the proposal should be
rejected and it will be rejected. The late
Kaiser cannot escape the punishment for his
own crimes because a faithful follower is
willing to go to the gallows in his place.
1t is the manifest duty of the allied gov
ernments to try both men and all others who
participated in the fateful decision to back
Austria in It's wanton assault on Serbia, who
demanded that war on Russia be declared,
who urged that war on France be declared
and who resolved on the violation OF Bel
GUM, an act which compelled Great Britain
to throw itself into the great struggle. When
these counts in the indictment are disposed
of, the court or another might call to
the bar of justice the men who planned and
executed the unrestricted submarine raids,
plotted the destruction OF the Lusitania, the
Arabic, the Essex and scores Of other de-
fenseless passenger ships.
Not one OF the arch-murderers OF the Ger
man empire has paid with his own life or
his own blood for the war which they began.
William Hohenzollern and his brood of
princes came through the strife unscathed
Holiweg, Kuehlmann, Zimmerman, Won
Tirptz, Hindenburg, Mackensen and the rest
of the red-handed brutes escaped with their
lives, although they drove millions OF German
men to their death and drenched the Cont
nent OF Europe with human blood.
Hollweg may imagine that he is doing
heroic thing in offering himself as sacri-
flee to save the former Emperor He may
be acclaimed by the monarchists who fought
hard throughout all the peace negotiations
TO gain immunity for the men who made this
war possible and to save them for restoration
to power, IL the German republic should col
lapse But it is not enough that the late
Chancellor should be brought to Justice 1t
is not enough that he should be found guilty
even upon his own confession, and his life
taken.
The whole world knows that if Wilhelm II
in 1914 had decreed there should have been
no war, there would have been no war And
the world knows that it was his decision to
fight that plunged practically all of Europe
into the maelstrom. II his accessories both
before and after the deed wish to be placed
on trial too. the allies will have no choice
but to take them at their word but they
cannot assume all the guilt or even the
m ajor part of it.