“NOBLER AMERICA”

Waikato Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 1892, 17 April 1917, Page 3

“NOBLER AMERICA”

In an article written.since the breach of relations between America and Germany, Mr Janies M. Beck, a prominent American who has written freely in condemnation of America and in support of the allied cause, says:—“The spirit of the nobler American is neither dead nor sleeping. Under the surface an intellectual and moral fermentation is in progress, such as the United States has not known since the days of the slavery agitation. If America, as now; seems only too probable, shall be drawn into the war as an actual belligerent and shall make great sacrifices of life and treasure in helping to extinguish this almost universal conflagration, then its right to sit at the Council Board of the Nations, when the terms of peace are determined, cannot be gainsaid.’ If so, what shall be its especial demand? It has no selfish purpose or desire for territorial aggrandisement. One demand it should make in the name of justice. For nearly two years past the German Government has refused to ‘ disavow ’ the Lusitania. By its Note of January 31st, 1917, it has ‘avowed’ it anew. For this shameless crime the United States should at the Council of Nations demand that the Kaiser, who caused the Lusitania to be sunk, shall for that crime forfeit his crown. There would be a ‘peace without (complete) victory,’ if the House of Hohenzollern, which from the time of Frederick the Great has cursed all nations (and most of all Germany), and which added the rape of Belgium to that of Silesia, was permitted to continue its baneful influence upon the world and the growth of democratic institutions. Neither the Lusitania nor ’ Belgium crime will be fully atonw’ while the Hohenzollerns remain in power. ’ ’