The Dominion. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1918. EXIT HOHENZOLLERN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 35, 5 November 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1918. EXIT HOHENZOLLERN

Bulgabia, Turkey, and Austria ha,ve capitulated in rapid succession, and Germany is now at bay. Three of the robber gang have been disarmed and securely handcuffed, and the fourth and last, the ringleader, is struggling desperately to prevent tho manacles from being placed on his wrists. But the giant's strength is waning, while the forces arrayed against him grow stronger every day. His fellow-criminals have abandoned him to his fata, and there is no quarter from which lie can expect any help. He may yet gather himself together for a final wild-cat spring at his opponents, but every door of escape has been closed. Further resistance can only prolong his agony. Such is the position in which Germany now stands—without friends and without hope. She knows she is beaten. She has been forced to her knees. The cup of humiliation is at her lips, but she still refuses to drain it to the dregs. The precise nature of the armistice terms laid down by the Allies have_ not yet been made public, but it is generally understood that they are extremely drastic. The French Ambassador at Washington states that the conditions practically mean a demand for unconditional surrender. 1 This is no time for sick sentimentalism. The Allies would be guilty of a positive crime if, through any weakness or hesitation' on their part, the enemy should find a way of renewing the struggle. It would be madness to put any trust whatever in this strong and crafty criminal's professions of penitence or good faithi Why should . Germany, the archcriminal, receive more leniency than her satellites 1 Justice requires that ber surrender shall bo as unconditional as theirs. If there is.to be any difference in treatment, the worst offender should be given the severest terms. The Germans themselves know what is coming,' and the feeling that they must submit to the inevitable seems to 'be gaining ground. "Wo shall read the terms with burning hearts," says torwaerts,_ "and we shall express indignation, but we shall accept and swallow' them all because there • is nothing else to do." Germany's pride naturally revolts at tho idea of unconditional surrender # or of a peace dictated by the Allies. Such humiliation in .the e'ye3 of the world would shatter her prestige. The words "submission" and "surrender" stick in her throat. But this no ordinary war, and the' settlement that is coming will be no ordinary peace. Lord Hugh Cecil has_ recently reminded us that the Allies are engaged in a great crusade. They.arc fighting "to overthrow a principle, to stamp out a moral disease, to extirpate an abomination." The civilised world is fighting to chastise rebels against its Fundamental laws. Such a war cannot end "in conversations and negotiations as between equals, but. in the recognised defeat of the rebel nation." In the interests of civilisation and international moralityPrussian militarism must be utterly discredited and smashed in pieces. "Moloch must be humiliated in the sight of all his votaries, if they are to accept a purer faith." Tho terms of the Allies will probably be uncompromising that ' Germany will'not accept them if she can do anything else. Some observers of the trend of events believe that she will yet make a desperate defence. She may'even make a last reckless plunge with her fleet, It is not likely that she will risk'such a venture on the sea; but it is quite certain that the Allies have ncft overlooked this .possibility, and if the German fleet should offer fight tho invitation will be very eagerly accepted by Admiral Beatty and his gallant men, together with their comrades of the American- Navy. It would be thegreatest.sea battle in the world's history, and no Britisher has any misgivings as regards the result. It is satisfactory to know that MarshalFoch is giving- the enemy no breathing time. The German armies arc still reeling back before tho ceaseless onslaughts of the Allied troop 3. The full victory of the Allies on the battlefields is the only certain way of. securing a peace based,on the principles of impartial justice. . .;

v at , 1S n,L to be tlle fate of the Aaiser; Ihe general opinion seems to be that his abdication is only a matter of clays. If ho does not abdicate voluntarily and quickly he will almost certainly be removed by his own people or at the dictation of the Allies.. If the. "Exit Haps«p\ ls rr t 0 be „ Pronounced, the , Jixit Hohenzollern" must also be spoken. Both dynasties ought to be swept away. The blood of millions cries out for vengeance on them both. But the two Kaisers should not be allowed to evade punishment by retirement into private life. Abdication does not mean expiation. It would not be in accordance with the dictates of evenhanded justice if the two chief malefactors were permitted to go scotfree while their subordinates were brought to judgment. The men who were responsible for the policy of f rightfulness" on sea and on land should be compelled to answer for the terrible catalogue of foul deeds perpetrated in obedience to their orders. It would be immoral not to demand retribution on the guilty Punishment is part of the morai order. As Me. W. S. Lilly points out in an article in the Septembor number of the Nineteenth Centum the connection between wrong-doing and penalty is not accidental: it is necessary; it rests upon reason. The very word "right" implies a moral law and a penal sanction. A socalled law which may be broken with impunity, is no law at all. Punishment is involved in transgression of law. It is the other half of crime H is the vindication of outraged right; the payment of the debt thereby incurred. Punishment is not a wrong to the malefactor. It is merely presenting him-with what is due to him. It is "the justice of tho unjust. The armistice is only the first insta ment of the pence settlement It lays down conditions upon which a cessation of the actual fighting will be agreed to. It is mainly a military procedure. It prepares the way for the conference at which the terms of peace will be fixed If justice is to be done, retribution will have to be given a prominent place in the settlement as well as reparation and securities. The conference may be called upon to decide the fate of the two Kaisers, and if it does its duty without fear or favour tho dethronement and pun-

ishmenfc of both will be decreed. If New Zealand's representative at the conference truly expresses the sentiments of tho people of this Dominion ho will give his voice and vote for the punishment of the criminal, no matter how highly placed be may be, whenever the responsibility for any specific crime can be sheeted home.