New-York tribune., 1919-06-19
The Arraignment


Through muddlements fomented by
no-thinkers, half-thinkers and thinkers
of evil, public opinion has been threat
ened with relapse into confusion with
respect to the war and the peace.
Now comes Georges Clemenceau, as
often before, to state simple truths
directly and strongly; to turn the mind
away from the little and toward the big;
to emphasize the consequential and sub
ordinate the inconsequential; to furnish
a true assessment Of relative values.
Great is his light, and from the blaze Of
his torch all may borrow illumination.
What is the great thing to be re-
membered? 1t is that misery came to
mankind because a particular nation
acted in particulac way and forced
other nations, against their wish and
their will, to marshal themselves. The
conflict on one side represented attack
and on the other represented defence;
was between aggressive wrong and re-
sisting right.
After years of diabolic preparation
the German government, with the sup
port of the German people, assailed lib
erty and justice everywhere, assailed all
the things called civilization, and became
responsible for 100000 deaths, for
20,0O0,00O cripples, for desolation over
the fairest portions Of the earth's sur
face. Never was there such wickedness;
never such virtue as prevented a pros
pering of the crime.
AS bulwafk of peace national boun-
diaries along lines of affinity are good;
so is guarding the frontiers of those
who would have peace; so is reparation;
so are plans to make concert of de-
fensive action easier. But Of more
practical value is clearly to perceive
why the war was. Now, we are un-
able to command the minds of the Ger
mans. But ultimately we may reach
their intelligences and quicken their
consciences and prevent a petrifaction
of the delusions which still cloud Ger
many-delusions which, if they further
harden, will perpetuate danger. Those
think ingloriously who misdoubt the
strength of truth.
Not to feed pride Of opinion must the
why of the war always be kept visible.
If pestlent persons, masquerading as
historians or as impartial commentators,
give currency to falsifying explanations
and excuses, then other nations may be
inclined to do as Germany did. Great
lies must not pass unchallenged.
Great is the moral inadequacy of
those who, to support some favorite
prejudice, seek to find ways to divide
blame. Rantzau, when he refused to
stand up before his judges, committed
a greater offence than he realized.
Clemenceau is properly filled with right
eous wrath.
There is to be no peace of justice.
The treaty does not contain it. The bill
which Germany could justly be called
on to pay has been scaled down 80 per
cent. The peace is unjust to millions
in the Allied countries. No compensa-
tion will be paid for the chairs empty
because of Germany's crime, and for
many years the Industrious will groan
under a burden imposed by Germany
No, Germany has kept no tryst with
justice. For some wrongs there are no
remedies.
Justice is unattainable. The percep-
ton that it is not attained will not bring
back the dead or restore the living, but
will make less likely the rerise of wrong.
Ac
of it, ventures to fondle those who be-
spatter sacred cause may there be at
hand some one to repeat Clemenceau's
terrific arraignment.