The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-24
THE TRIAL OF HoHENzoLLERN.

all is the fear that Germans Will become rreconc1lable II
their KAISER should be tried and therefore that Ger
many would refuse to join the league of nations As the
opinion to be settled that the league of nations
will not be true league without Germany, these British
commentators insist that it is not worth while to punish
Hohenzollern and antagonze Germany. Nothing should
be done to promote Hohenzoern restoration" says
British objector and therefore the allied governments
must seriously consider whether the proposed London
trial may not assist toward that very end In other
words Hohenzolern restoration would prevent Germany
from qualifying for membership in the league of nations
We have discussed the question of German membership
in the league of nations and given the why
believe reliance should be placed upon the hope that
Germany would repent reform and cooperate in
good faith in league to keep down If author
atve statement should be made that the of the
league of nations depends upon the membership and
operation of Germany, think it would kill the league
The pressure to expedite Germanys admission into the
league powerful deterrent against the whole-heartec
Acceptance of the league by France and England wthou
whose support the project must fail. The majority Of
Frenchmen and Brtons have taken Germany's measure
and will admit that the German people have changed
or change their nature.
1t is not logical or just to proceed with the execution
of the policy of expiration and reparaon and then per-
nit the former emperor to escape He is guilty if a.
other German guilty, and if guilty at ALL is guilty
than other German. How the murderous agents
of Hohenzolern be punished if he is exonerated? Let
him and all others should be allowed to CO. for surely
ho aliod do
all time respecters Of assassin when he wears
crown.
Nobody expects Hohenzollern to be charged with the
murder of any specified person. but the other hand
body who believes at all in the guilt of Germany can ex
culate Hohenzoern from personal guilt He was the d.
rector of Germany and constantly asserted that he pos
sessed full power German affairs as divney ap
pointed agent The German people acclaimed him as war
lord and gave him control of their lives and property to
use as ne saw fit in attempting to conquer destroy
other peoples. He personally commanded and directed
vast forces which the best proof that he was clothed
with authority in such smaller matters as the power to
spare like Edith Cavell or man like Capt
Fryatt HOhenzoern boosted that he had built the Ger
man navy and the air feet He could have stopped the
air raids on the showing of his great war powers in all
directions He could have checked the murder of de-
fenseess passengers and the high SEAS vet he
not only permitted them but encouraged and rewarded
the murderers These facts which can be proved by
evidence already in the possession of the allies Other
evidence may be in possession of the Germans showing
Hohenzoerns personal guilt but the allies cannot count
upon the delivery of such documents
The allies do not charge Hohenzoern with murder but
with the violation of treaties His crime is new and the
trial and punishment must be worked out according to
the rules of justice But there is nothing in the nature
of retroactive legislation in this case Hohenzoern Gre
aed precedent when he made murderous attack upon
his neighbors. Having resisted this attack and bound
him. they now forced to make precedent in punish
ing him. To let him go is to notify nationslayers that
they can count upon immunity if they will make their
crimes colossal.
We have no patience with the towards who urge the
release of Hohenzern and the other murderers who fear
the Germans may be angered and become rreconciable
When the ratcsnake be taught to withhold his stroke
and the tiger be brought to perceive the unfarness of
attacking defenseess deer there will be some basis for
the argument that the nation which lately sought to de-
strOy others is no longer murderer at heart There
nothing to be gained by appealing to the better nature"
of assassins who have better nature.
As for abandoning the prosecution of German malefac
tors for the sake of modifying Germany and expedng
her admission into the league of nations hold that this
is in fragrant violation of the peace treaty itself and as
advantageous to Germany in escaping the consequences
her acts would be the gift of several divisions oil
troops with which to strengthen her plans for another at
tack Let those who betrayed into the faacy of he
ing Germany pay heed to the warnings of Marshal Foch
There man who is in position to know. He does