The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-05-05

During the rast few weeks as
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
church. South. appointed to investi-
gate conditions and to make recon-
mendations for relief work in Europe,
have visited France, Belgium, Hol-
land Austria, Czecho- Slovakla. Po-
land, Austria, Czecho- Slovakia, 70
seen in person as much as possible IN
the allotted time. and have held nu-
merous conferences with thoroughly
posted and reliable workers and lead
ers and on the basis of these personal
observations and reliable testimony |
have cabied to the United states rec
concentrations for appropriations Tor
pressing needs. In carrying on this
investigation | have been brought
face to face with facts of political
and international nature, and some
trienda have suge ested that state
ment might interest your readers 1T
may be proper to state that | was
personally with the American army
in Great Britain and France in 1918,
and was again in Great Britain.
France and Italy from January until
May, 1919 and have been in frequent
communication with weil-informe ed
men and women, who have manifest
ed in speech and action breadth OF
vision, liberality of thought and de-
sire for better conditions, not for their
own countries simply. but for our en-
tire present-day world The conclu
sions are based as I believe. upon a
careful considerat ton of the facts, not
upon prejudice, narrowness or vim
dictiveness. and ! trust-I may be par
| doncd If these conclusions are cast in
a somew hat theological form,
First, Germany Has Sinned. Led
by the kaiser and his government,
| 6 ermany forced war upon an amazed
and a protesting Europe, in order
that Germany might dominate the
commercial and political life, not only
of Europe, but OF the world To &C
compiish this result the German peo-
Pie with few ohjecting voices sup
ported their imperialistlc leaders.
For over four years Germany tried by
| every possible means fair or foul, to
, impose her will upon the world.
| There was nothing too brutal, too re-
voting, TOO cruel TOO CowardlY for
the German war lords The air raids
on unfortified cities like London and
Scarborough, the deliberate destruc-
ton and vandalism at Noyon Lens
and throughout Northern France. the
sinking of the Lusitania and other
non-Combatan ships, the murder of
+ \ uISt aNbti, DtNN inns tdH ulHE (ne
persistent entreatyi Of the American
and Spanish embassies. the dcporta
ton of men women and Girls--these
and other similar deeds put the
| brand Of eternal mfan>y upon present
day Germany. If there b. those who
stlll deny nr doubt Gcrmanys re-
sponsihlhty for the war and its con-
sequences. | cannot hope to convince
such persons in this article The
great world tribunal outside Of Ger
! many has heard the testimony and
has given its verdict Guilty
Second The World suffers. Ger
many's sin has brought great suffer
ing, Millions of men in their prime
have been killed. Millions more will
suffer for life from wounds millions
Of parents and wives have lost their
best beloved famine and pestilence
have been and arc Still destroying
Young children and delicate women,
Northern France. Serbia and in a
lesser degree Northern italy, have
been laid waste Poland has been the
battle-ground of advancing and re-
treating armies. machinery, food
stuffs. furniture, Valuables Of every
description have been stolen and sent
to Germany from the territory occu-
pied by the German armies The
whole world has been hurdened by
hugo debts. which viii require heavy
taxation for a generation the coun-
tries of Europe especially have been
Put under such intense and prolonged
nervous strain for over Ave years
that thought and actions arc still a b.
normal. No man knows or can posi-
lively predict even yet what further
disturbances involving bloodshed, and
war may occur, for there are still
millions OF troops under arms in
Europe. lGermany's sin has brought
political and mental distress To the
whole world and my recent investiga-
lions have indelibly yisualized this
distress. and in the presence of de-
struction, disease and death | have