Any form of restraint laid upon the Kaiser by interna
tional decree, will bo in accordance with established law, or it
will be the result of an ex-post facto regulation, a law made
after tho fact.
Tho objection therefore appears to be only the imposition
of the death penalty, by regulation after the fact, which means
that the Allies may not regard it as wise to inflict the death
penalty.
But a penalty of imprisonment, if there is no international
law to punish tho Kaiser, is a3 much a resort to ex-post facto
m'ethods, as the death penalty would be.
The antipathy of English speaking peoples to ex-post facto
laws, does not apply more to laws imposing the death penalty
than to laws imposing imprisonment, deprivation of property
and the like.
The Times-Farmer is compelled to the conclusion that the
Kaiser will be dealt with as policy directs.
A very simple method would be to turn him over to a tri
bunal of his .own people, with whom he stands as a deserter
TO-m the military forces:of the nation.
THE TREATY OF PEACE
THE NEWS that comes out of Paris is interesting, but not
alarming. Tho great powers evidently are close to an
agreement, and feel that the preliminary peace agreement is
on the edge of being settled up. It will be safe to say that Mr.
Wilson will get what he goes after. He wants little or noth
ing that is selfish, a good deal that is altruistic, and much more
that is necessary for the safety of mankind.
What he wants ho will get, for two reasons; the justice
of his demands are one reason; the economic, financial and
military power of America is another reason.
