With one awful exception, however. Moved by what atavistic influence we know not, in striking contrast to the trend of world development during the last three hundred years, the German government and people in the last half century have evolved the doctrine and subscribed to the principles of _shrecklichkeit_. As briefly characterized by Bismarck, this policy, or principle of conduct, aims to leave to the enemy nothing except their eyes with which to weep. It lays the ax to the very foundation of the structure of international law, slowly reared through three hundred years of effort. For the rule of right and justice it substitutes the jungle law of tooth and fang. Under its malign influence the whole circuit of the earth is filled with spying and treason, with fraud and strife. On the foul results of this policy, as applied to the conduct of armies, it is superfluous to dwell when addressing readers of the present generation. No sharper commentary upon the sad reversion of modern Germany to the customs and practices of savagery can be afforded than the fact that the rules promulgated by Lincoln for the guidance of the Union armies were drafted by Francis Lieber, one of the most notable men ever driven from reactionary Prussia to seek refuge in the United States. _Shrecklichkeit_, like revolutionary France in 1792, throws down the gage of battle to the remainder of the civilized world. In 1792, however, revolutionary France voiced the aspirations of the future against the dead weight of the past. Today imperial Germany challenges the civilization of the present and the hopes of the future in the interest of resurgent savagery. The world is too small to contain two such antagonistic sets of ideals and of conduct. Either Prussian _shrecklichkeit_ or the American ideal of order based on reason and justice must prevail. May we acquit ourselves like men and carry the fight to the finish. THE QUESTION BOX +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _The Wisconsin Historical Library has long maintained a | | bureau of historical information for the benefit of those who | | care to avail themselves of the service it offers. In “The | | Question Box” will be printed from time to time such queries, | | with the answers made to them, as possess sufficient general | | interest to render their publication worth while._ | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ THE FIRST SETTLER OF BARABOO I am not able to fix the exact date when Abraham Wood came to Baraboo. What is the opinion of the staff as to the time? He was supposed to be the first permanent settler. A line will be appreciated. H. E. COLE, _Baraboo, Wisconsin_.