Honest Confession

It is a notorious fact that nations, as nations, never repent. The North expected the South to repent the Civil War--without avail. But Grant's magnanimity and Lee's gentlemanliness after the war did much to bridge a yawning chasm of hate.

In regard to the World War, let that nation which is without sin cast the first stone. Individual acts and words, however, make a bridge for international understanding. Last week, before 5,000 German-Americans, Cardinal Michael Ritter von Faulhaber of Munich, admitted freely that his countrymen and the Imperial German Government had made grave mistakes both before and during the war. He apologized personally for the sinking of the Lusitania, the invasion of Belgium and other acts of his fatherland. He said he was not representing the government, and would account for what he said only to himself. But it strikes a responsive chord in many hearts in America, who look for individual breadth of mind to save the world. The German prelate joins himself in sentiment with the English nurse Cavell, who said before her execution tion : " Patriotism is not enough."