Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1918. THE EX-KAISER’S TRIAL.
].\ swine interesting comment-, on this subject, the Sydney Telegraph soys: hi (he olden limes when n monarch who had made tear was defeated in ha 1 lie he was usually one of the slain. His victor found the dead man’s crown on a nearby hush, and promptly crowned himself. If, however, the defeated tyrant escaped the enemy's swords, he philosophically fell on his own. Thus, in a rough way, .justice was satisfied. The monarch who had appealed to the sword perished by the sword: before he declared war he had known the risks he was about to take; if he failed he lost not only his crown and his estates but his life. Jn latter times, however, this just law of personal responsibility was muddied by the theory of the divine right: of kings. Thu divinity that hedged a king was so great that a sovereign could not be held responsible for the clfeets of Ids own actions. A monarch could not be expected to suffer punishment for Ids errors or crimes. That, was a good enough fate for the common felon; (he blood (hat coursed through the veins of a monarch was far too sacred to be spilled by mere men, no matter how much of his subjects’ blood his ambition or greed had caused to flow, and no matter for what trivial cause. Whatever disaster his armies suffered did not involve the king, whatever seeriliees of life his troops made in his defence required no reciprocal .sacrifice from him. He was exempt from the fate bf ordinary mortals. Occasionally a luloi’, .secure in his shield of inviolability, would graciously shoulder the whole responsibility of even to these days of democratic government —and by that candid admissi-
on, a* it were, purged himself of his sin ami let'go free again. If ih<« case was very flagrant the rider would order an inquiry to be hold, and some general or subordinate would be offered up for punishment in expiation. Thus were • satisfied the demands of justice. So. grew up the theory of the strictly limited liability of rulers in making war. If a monarch declared war lie took a risk, of course, but not a vital risk. K he won he was naturally exempt from punishment; if he lost, his territories might be depleted, his armies reduced, oven his throne taken away from him; expedience was satisfied when he was reduced to impotence; justice had no claim to touch him. The legend of the divine rights of kings survived even the defeat of kings. The wonld-bo world conqueror became a private, citizen, renounced his throne, and retired to a life of leisure in’some salubrious pleasure resort. The world before the war knew many deposed kings and repudiated presidents. And their fate conveyed no lesson to their imitators. If the adventure was worth the risk there was nothing to prevent any ruler plunging the world into war (u achieve Jiis predatory ends. If the worst came to (he worst ho could abdicate ami lice to (lie refuge of a neutral country. Me had tried and failed; and he would have ample opportunity for the rest of his life to digest I lie reasons for his failure. He might.even try again. * & * * JUSTICE, NOT V'FATIMANCM. THIS war has been so disastrous to mankind, so destructive to the finest results of civilisation, that the demand which is so steadily growing for the (rial and punishment of the arch-distruhcr of the world’s peace appeals to the conscience of (lie whole world. It is not vengeance (hat is tlie force behind this claimant demand; it is the universal consciousness of the need Hint justice should he done upon the perpetrator of an enormous and execrable crime. That sentiment involves a new and startling conception of the responsibility of kings and rulers. The ex-Kaiscr must he brought to (rial, and, if proved guilty, he must he punished, because he lias been personally responsible for the outbreak and conduct of the war. That (lie exKaiser will he judged and punished scents now probable; hut the mere punishment of dial criminal is a
small (compared \vil!i (lie selling uj> i>T such .i precedent. For 1 1 y sheeting liuHR 1 uj>iin the ex-Kai-sci' liis personal responsibility for lliis uur and Ihe conduct of this wj’.r the High (,'ourl of Civilisation sets upon the sfnlute book of mankind 1 !ie greatest possib!e deterrent against future wars. Henceforth, no ruler of a Slate, deuiocralie or nionurchiu!, v.’ould dare involve that Slate in war unless lie were ready to pay in his own person for the defeat of his country. The effeeliveness of tlie Hague Tribunals, International Courts of Arbitration, and oilier methods of preventing (he outbreak of wars, would he strengthened by showing that men who make wars can he made not merely nominally hut aelually and personally responsible for their crime. Yes, i( may he objected, hut this is uo deterrent if the aggressor wins. If Germany had won, where would (here have been found in the world anyone to accuse the exKaiser of criminality? The answer is apt: but really no answer. For if ever (here was a war in which the .aggressor at (he outset was absolutely certain of winning, it was
the present war. And yd he lost, and must pay. Is it conceivable (hat in 1 lie fullin' tliero could be another war in which (he aggressor could be even as sure of success as I lie ex-Kaiser was ? The demand for the (rial and. punishment of the ex-Kaiser thus lakes on a significance altogether greater limn the mere punishment of a criminal; it becomes an important step towards ensuring mankind against war. This war may not have been a war to end war; but the public trial of the instigator of this war will go .a long way to prevent future wars. It will settle for all time (hat those who take up the sword may not escape the sword by slipping away in the character of a private citizen.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1912, 7 December 1918, Page 2
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1,014Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1918. THE EX-KAISER’S TRIAL. Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1912, 7 December 1918, Page 2
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