El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-06
HASKIN POSSIBLE
EUROPEAN
WAR
Continued from Page So,

ton obtained Germany could not start
things because it was afraid of the
British navy, and England could not
attack because it was afraid of the
German army. The difference in the
constitution of the chief military arms
of the two nations was an automatic
guarantee of peace.
Building German Navy.
But in late years Germany has been
building a navy, and England has been
attempting to organize an army. The
kaiser has said that the trident must
be placed in the fist of Germania. The
British military experts have said that
every British boy must be trained as
soldier This means that the shark is
trying to grow legs, and the tiger is
cultivating fins.
OF course there is no real reason for
war. England is not attempting to in
fringe Germany's natural rights, and
Germany is not interfering with British
affairs. But il must be remembered
that there is very seldom any real
reason for a war Rebellions and in
surrections usually, If not always. have
a real and logical cause. When a peo-
Pile or a section of a people, arises in
arms against its constituted ruler there
is always the grievance of a real or
fancied oppression. and the rebels be-
lieve that they are fighting for their
liberty.
The Causes of War.
When two nations go to war there
is usually no reason except greed and
ambition. If the war between Japan
and Russia had not been fought the
status of the Japanese and Russian
people would not be appreciably differ
ent from its actual condition today.
That the greatest war of history so
far as the number OF men engaged and
l.
cerned, was caused by greed. Both
Japan and Russia wished to possess
themselves of defenseleSs Korea, for
entirely selfish purposes. The Koreans
would have suffered as greatly, and
their independence would have been
terminated as completely, if Russia
had won. The significant feature or
this bit of history, finally consummated
only the other day, is that both Japan
and Russia went into the war solemnly
avowing the single purpose of preserv-
ing the independence and integrity of
Korea This SHOWS that diplomatic
assurances are to be taken only for
what they are-most generally lies
Therefore, it is wholly unnecessary to
consider the fact that both German and
British dipIomatists deny emphatically
that there is even the slightest reason
to suppose that Germany and England
will come to blows. They would con-
tinue these denials in spite of the
truth, until within one minute of solar
time Of the transmission of the sudden
ultimatum with which the war will be-
gin, if it does begin. In all matters
even remotely concerning the horrible
business of war, it is the honorable
part on honorable diplomatists to de-
ceive. If they are not successful in de-
ception they are failures in diplomacy.
Some Recent Wars.
OptimistS pOoh-pOoh the possibility
Of a war between the German and the
British empires on the ground that
civilization has advanced so far that in
this enlightened a - 1t is impossible for
two great countries to go to war
merely on suspicion. for the base
purpose of gaining territory. Yet it is
only 40 years since Prussia humbled
France and eXaeted an indemnity of
billion dollars, besides taking much
valuable territory. 1t is only decade
since Great Britain fought tremen
dous war in South Africa to extinguish
the national existence of the Boer re-
publics 1t is only II years ago that
the United States began a war of un-
selfishness to free the Cubans and end
ed by stripping Spain of its every
colony. 1t is only six years ago that
Japan and Russia fought a terrible
war for a prize to which neither OF
them had the slightest legal or right
full claim.
And now. with our civilization at it's
highest and the tide still rising, the
past four years has witnessed the sad
and shameful spectacle of every con-
siderable nation in the world doubling,
tripping and qUadrupling its expendi-
ture on the machinery of murder. The
advocates of arbitration are more
numerous and respectable than they
ever have been before, but they are IN
able to influence a national legisla-
ture in a single one of the principal ma
tions of the earth. Russia and Japan.
instead of decreasing taxes after the
war, actually doubled the special war
taxes in order to get ready for other
wars. England and Germany, opponents
of the highest type of European civiliza-
ton, are facing bankruptcy because
they are preparing for q war. Even
Argentina and Brazil have Joined in
the mad game of Dreadnought build
ing. The United States, a peaceful and
democratic republic, is spending more
every year on its military establish
mept than does imperial Britain or
military Germany. The Americans do
not feel the burden so much because
they have so much more wealth. Even
China, having a civilization older than
that of any other country in the world
is making pitiful efforts to equip an
army in the hope of withstanding the
thievish and murderous expeditions
sent against it by the greedy nations
which pretend to be worshippers of
the Prince of Peace.
Ffnanciers the Rulers
Greed still rules the world, and greed
in turn is controlled by the financiers.
It is the great bankers of the great
money capitals of Europe who alone
can answer with confidence the ques-
ton: Will England and Germany fight?
If the financiers of England conclude
that German trade rivalry is real and
not a fancied menace to British trade,
then there will be a fight If the
financiers of Germany decide that
I Britain must be humbled in order TO
make way for the advancing cohorts of
commercial Germany, then there will be
a fight. II the financiers of either rs
ton become convinced that the demo-
cracy of their country is about to
abolish the special privileges of the
wealthy and aristOcratic classes, then
there will be a fight.
Time Will Answer Question.
VIII England and Germany fight?
Time alone can say But the fact that
oceans of ink are being spilled in at
] h.