The Washington times., 1922-11-19

~~~S~~s>~@S~''~"~S>'~~
lieved this absurdity with mystic
fervor and ruined themselves un.
dauntedly for four years. certain
to conquer an Eldorado.
While the fate Of the war hung
in the balance the enemies OF Ger
bany were wiser. They were not
disinclined to recognize. with resig.
nation, that victory would prove
only lesser ruin than defeat.
Peril and fear held appetitites In
cneck, dissipating the hallucina.
tions of greed and ambition.
One of the most illustrious
French generals said one day:
AT the end Of the war the con-
qured will be naked and the con.
queror in rags"
HALLUCINATION SHIFTS.
But scarcely had the armistice
been concluded than the hullucina-
ton passed over from Germany to
her conquerors. Danger and fear
being over. appetites ..oke loose.
No one reasoned any longer; neither
peoples nor governments.
Neither the one o. the other re-
signd themselves to wear rags now
that the foe was overcome. VIC
tory must bear fruit. And In order
that Il bear fruit Germany must
not be naked but be clothed In
satin. in silk. in purple and gold.
|, II not, how could she be de-
spoiled? The peace treaties are all
based upon the suppOsition that
Germany in 1919 was as rich. in
dustrious. alert and powerful as
in 1914.
Not one of the many admirers
that triumphant Germany boasted.
during her forty years Of glorious
progress during peace. ever flatter-
ed her as did her conquerors from
1919 onward. when she lay pros
trate on the ground. There Is no
miracle, no portent. no prodigy, or
which they did not hold her ca.
pable.
A four year war waged against
half the world. on sea and land, In
Europe and Asia. whit was that
to a country like Germany who
issued from 1t all her territory In.
tact? War costs? Devastations!
Pensions? Germany will pay them
all. 100, 200, 900 billion. This last
figure is that with which LLOYD
George would be Satisfied In BE-
cember 1918.
GREED BLINDS EVERYONE.
Greed blinded everyone. Germany,
exhausted. had laid down ner arms AZ
the end Of 1918 In order to save the
last remnant of her destroyed Tor
tune. To illude themselves that the
victory would profit the vfctors in
the measure of their Ariosto-hke
fantasy the victors constructed OF
al
cules of the nations able to accom-
plish vet other twelve and more la
bors for their pleasure and profit.
Does history furnish an instance
Of greater folly? No one thought
that II Hercules still had strength to
spare he would have achieved yet
one more labor; he would. with his
club, have cleft the head OF the
enemies who tried OF enchain him.
Instead all rushed with hands full
of good money to offer II to Germany
in exchange for her debased cur
rency, persuaded that II would soon
become better than the best. Ger
many would enact the miracle.
Today all are astonished that their
hands only close around paper which
will soon be of no use save to light
the fire. But Of whom are Europe
and America the victims. unless OF
their own greed?
Oh! Foolish peoples, how many
men must yet perish. how many
countries must still be devastated.
how many billions must you lose.
changing gold into paper. that you
may learn what good sense has
taught men for thousands and thou.
sands Of years? That war is a mother
of want? That.it destroys and does
not create?