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THE FATHERLAND 9
You too repeat the common and absurd superstition that
in the Kaiser alone resides responsibility for the outbreak.
No man, last of all this intelligent German, approves of Rus-
sian militarism, but no Englishman has yet realized the
reason for this ascendancy of the soldier in a nation of
peace-loving people. it is the attitude of France, a nation
unable like others to reconcile herself to defeat, which gave
birth to the German military system-a largely defensive one.
For 44 years France has mantained her steady and inextin-
guishable propaganda of hatred and “revanche.”
And now, sitting calmly before the map of the Continent,
you suggest that these two provinces originally stolen from
Germany by Louis the Xlvth, should be given back to France!
They were won back by Germany at the cost of oceans of
German blood. After the cession to Germany, ‘he People
were given the choice of remaining French or German sub-
iects. The Germans have sworn that the Rhine shall re-
main a German river within the German land. and if Y0‘-l
know anything of the temper of that people you will realize
what that means. There are nowimore Germans and Ger-
man interests in these two provinces than the small resi-
due of French. To deprive Germany of these two provinces
eshould she be beaten by the overwhelming odds agalflsi
her-would merely re-open the old sores on the other side
of the boundary.
You speak, too, of the “cheap” victories of the Germans in
1870. That word is an insult to what must forever remain
one of the greatest military achievements in history. More-
over it is rash of you to use it at the present moment When
whatever victories we ourselves might win, Wm Ce-Yl3lnlYi
in view of conditions, be cheap. Hundreds of thousands of
German lives were lost in carrying the tremendous for-
tresses of the frontiers-yet all were carried. During the
taking of one alone 28,000 German lives were lost. Yet
France. the greatest military power of the times, won riot a
Single battle, despite its superiority in modern Weapons ‘and
equipment. Hopelessly was she beaten W “"3 de5P‘5ed
nation of professors and dreamers-a nation P001‘ and
scarcely unified. And since that day she has maintained her
warfare of lies and calumny. .
Germany, even the Kaiser, has been proved the friend of
peace. That she arrived among the 3'93‘ POW?“ 0“lY ‘Elie’
England and the others had seized all available P05-Sessions
must not be allowed to hamper her develovmeni-M‘ l“ ‘hf’
name of humanity and civilization-with England in the atti-
illde of the dog-in-the-manger. ' ,
I repeat, and I know that in the hearts of many Eflgll$ll'
men whose months are now muzzled my words must strike
the chords of conscience and of justice-our nation has
proved what history will certainly describe as a traitor to
our race. She is supporting the Latin against her Teuton
brothers, she is supporting the monstrous Slav, though
ashamed to avow it-and now, as a crowning infamy she
has incited the Mongol hordes against her own blood. This
is to me the infamy of infamies-the cowardice of all
cowardice!
What a base and ignoble game-to endeavor to wrest
from Germany her share in the spoils of the Boxer re-
bellion-a seizure or lease of Chinese territory in which
France, England and Russia were equally guilty! it is an
example of that perilous policy of which the world has al-
ways accused us-of egging on one nation against the
other. England has now given a powerful incentive to
Tartar and Mongolian forces which shall overwhelm her
as well as the rest of Europe. First the Slav, then the
Mongol.
Shame and humiliation are in my heart as I write. I
‘see the fair name of ageing England blackened by a
treachery that arises from weakness and fear, from hypocrisy
and injustice.
It is the glaring, the crying duty of one in your position
to stand forth againstgthis monstrous sham and crime.
irrespective of mob sentiment, journalistic frenzy or your
own popularity, it is your sacred duty to become a spokes-
man for a country traduced, maligned and attacked on all
sides. You know well what Germany stands for--for that
order, system, intellect in the guidance of life which square
so thoroughly with your own ideals. You may fear through
frankness to risk your fame, your prestige as a writer, but
these cannot diminish but merely increase. Remember that
when his inmost conscience and convictions urged him,
Victor Hugo dared exile and the mob. Only recently you
urged Sir Thomas Lipton and Lord Devonport to beggar
themselves if need be so long as they did not raise the
price of food. Shall a leading, wealthy novelist and social
thinker risen above the confines of a narrow patriotism,
have less courage than a grocer?
They say that you would do many things to which your
true impulses impel you, but that there always enters some
fatal inhibition of the will. But in the exaltation of a
crisis such as this you will master that inhibition. You have
your matchless opportunity for a luminous and lofty per-
sonal greatness. Or shall History with its cold, dispassion-
ate hands and eyes, weigh H. G. We.lls in the balances
and find him recreant and wanting?
Aylesbury. R. L. Orchelle.
TI-IE TREASON
By ERNEST BRUNCKEN.
THEY have signed the treaty. thev’re “WY ""“““v"
‘ Thus whispered the Briton and will’ Cal“
in the ear of the volatile Walloon,
“And much is easily gained for us all:
“Remember the Flemingjn your own walls
“He dares to ask for an equal fight!
“He seems the tongue of beautiful France
“And harsh on your ears his ial'E0“ fans-
"Come, ioin our league! in our secret Plalls
“We ar'e weaving a net for the German fool.
“His honest dullness will make that scrap
“Of parchment scribbled our sharpest tool.
“Then you may laugh at the Flemish boar;
“Then throughout Belgium, rich and fair,
“Will ring French words and songs alone,
“And Flemish Antwerpen be French Anversl”
Thus softly they spoks to the weak Walloon, ’
He forgot his faith and his plighted word.
To the French he opened his fortress gate
To strike, when the war bell should be heard.
Woe, woe, the Walloon! The lighming spark
Struck quick and hard ere Treason was done
Preparing the scheme and weaving the net
For Justice is swift, and Right has won!
What boots his bravet'Y: Sewing ‘he w"’“g.l
Now Mankind will forget not S0011
The vengeance coming in fire and blood.
To the treacherous wile of the weak Walloon!
f‘