The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-06-12

II =
statement at one time made by
President Wilson, when he said
to the people of Germany that we
lare not fighting them, but their
government. The Huns are now
also trying to take advantage Of
this statement, declaring that they
have now kicked the props from
under their former government
land ask to, get off easy. If we
stop here and do not go deeper in
to The matter, that phrase puts
President Wilson into an embar-
raising position, but let us see
what isin back of it.: ".a. a. /
When President Wilson made
that offer, for it was an offer to
the German people, he wanted to
ascertain what they thought Of
their Kaiser aud their govern
tnent, and also made an attempt
to drive aswedge between the com
mon, people of Germany, who did
the dying and bleeding, and their,
erimipsl government. The offer
was good last year when we de-,
elared war against Germany, but.
by no means does that say that it
holds good this day. 1t was con-
lditiunal, as it meant that if the
peopleof Germany, to whom it
was addressed, are not in sympa-
thy with their criminal govern
ment that they can easily over
throwit and by doing that show
their sincerity and may have a
chanee jeopardy undo the wrong
and get off easy. .-..- II
That they could have done that,
is proved by the fact that the Cze-
choslovaks, 9 million strong, ep-
posed their Austrian criminal GO
verpment. and If this small na.
ttion could haye done what it, did,
surely rs million Germans in Ger
many could have done the same
without fear Of being decimatsd
as rebels by loyal troops, as
has been the case with the Czecho-
slovaks. Had the common Ger
man and Hungarian of a,oth Aas-
tria and Germany joined the Cze-
choslovak in his defiance ofrthe
two criminal governments that
brought on the war, the world ut
large would have a different OPT
| nion of the common German peo-
pie now believing like calves for
easy terms. r
| Wilson gave them an offer in
that phrase; they did not accept
it but fought the more furiously
| for their Kaiser and their crimi-
tnal government, and for that rea.
son the offer became void. Tile
same may he said Of the fourteen
points which the Huns are now
trying to use as a shield. The
fourteen points were and are mere
i Iysan academic proposition and 3
.1plan for world peace, provided
however, that all nations. shoule
abide by them, and also be bind,
ling ON all.a, Germany has provet
itself to be- a fourfiusher and /
postmaster in duplicity, brazenh
aud brutally breaking all agree.
ments with the rest of the world
and hence should be the last +,
point to the fourteen points as tit:
tbeacon, because this same Ger1aa
iny would lie the first to breal
them. s-.
| OF course it would, at this time
be- a6ne thing, for. Germany il
1.-THE peace terms we're hewed il
cunfofnity with the fourteen
points;for other nations to observe
and keep and Germany treat then
as. scraps of paper". That bluff
of a German republic does moi
seem to take, as it is generally
known that the, Kaiser, the Junk
ers and in fact every single Ger.
man knowsit to be. a. camoufiag.
/ and that thesharness maker Eber
has strings attached to him anc
the old Kaiser clique is pulling