The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-25
-AM ENEMY DO CIVILIZATION

In the domain Of mere human en-
deayor. the most valuable product
Of the ages Is what we call modern
civ1zation. The art and culture Of
Greece, the laws Of Rome and tho
experience or mankind in the ages
history are but mighty streams fllw
ing into The grand ocean Of civiliza
tion as we now know it and utilize
for the good Of man ara his upliTt
In mind and in heart. II follows that
next to the preservation of relgiou
and morals as we now receive them,
il is our duty to guard our elyiliza.
ton and to put under foot It's enemies
and all that threaten It's existence
d It's continued advancement II
these premises be accepted hen le
MS note that Sir Edward Grey ono
Of Europes leading statesmen, late
y said in the British house Of com
mons
Unless the incongruity and mis-
chief lof mounting military costs) be
brought home not only 70 the heads
! of men generally, but to their feelings
as we'll, the rivalry will contnu,
aud Il must in the long run breal
down civilization You are hayins
this great burden piled up in times
OF peace, and II Il goes on increasing
by leaps and bounds as ii has dont
In the last generation IL will become
intolerable There are those who
think 1t will lead to war precisely
because II is already becoming lntol'
erable. think 1t much more lsaly
that the burden will be disslpa et
by an internal revolution, BY reyol
Of the masses OF men against taxa
tion.
Until recently America could look
upon the absorption OF Europe in tn
same as we view the doiags in a
mad dhouse- he madness OF our
neighbors concerned us little save as
students of sociological conditions.
Rut we are now being committed to
! H. the burden of taxation is already
aeaNy on as, bu we cannot lind the
n'uaey TO deyclop our country be-
cause that money is needed for ships
aLd armiesto i;apose our viii o3
81 ers and labor 10 prepare teH ltN
day when we eau proudly asser. au,-
selves as one of the great powersl
We are heavily taxed and the far
+ greater portion Of the proce Is is
spent for wars, past, present Or ln
4 Mrc but we must mol expect that
harbnrs can be prepared or roads
built 10 supply urgent needs because
more money and yet more is needed
for war machinery Shall war become
tie business of our people, the hrsi
consideration and the las? Qua
great canal was to be built for $500.
100000 at the outside as an aid il
tie development OF our business. thC
cost has been multiplied but The oh
i jpct Of all is now military and no
commercial--the last has been mad,
first and the first is pu, last But this
I Is only an Instance million or two
may be expended 10 send the hattie
shin fleet around the world million
Or more may be spent on army ma
/ neuFers, but the nation cannot evel
pay its debts and only now dares t
lmif the Injustice of taking from
one citizen 10 fll the pockets of an
other
Il the day of trial comes ten year
from now which nation will hav
the advantage? Not Che one that ha
impoverished itself to create armie
and nayies the maintenance 0
4 these creates burdens that are dri,
: ing population from the aalicte
lands as did religious intolerance .
the plague In the old days, But th
strong ma ion is the one that has
! numerous healthy and coutante
Z people, able 70 make war. TO suppl
armies with food and 70 buy victor
in the market places Two pres
dents OF the United States hav
Shown themselves afflic ed with til
: European madnesslet US he carelr
, that we keep civilization and its hes
results. Spain fell because she 4,
voted herself to miitarisni Englan
! rose because she remained free an
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