The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-08-14

came from the ranks of the toilers,
appeals to labor to make war i'm
possible. The miners of Wales refuse
to forego holiday at the request
of the British Admiralty, and urge
the calling of a convention of the
miners of all nations to force upon
them views condemnatory of war.
1t is probably too late now for any
of these plans or protests to be eff
fective. But their appearance so gem
orally Is full of meaning. And full
of meaning. too, is the fact that as
you read of them they stir your SYM
patty. You feel these king-trodden
multitudes, driven to the slaughter
of their fellows and to face their
own doom, would be justified in
almost any course that freed them
from bondage so bitter. For the wis
dom of peace and the dream of
brotherhood has gripped the i'm
agination of the world. and where
yesterday we would have applauded
the patriotism and courage of war
ring nations. today we stand aghast
as our nobler dream is dissipated by
the angry breath of three mad mon
archs.
When the struggle is ended, when
five great Powers. weary and wound
ed, withdraw their armies and count
the cost, monarchy in Europe will
face its day of judgment. Then those
who have fought at the bidding Of
kings and emperors will demand a
reck oning 1t is inconceivable that
the masses of Europe will permit
again the possibility of such betray-
al as they are now suffering.
Happy is our own country. Among
civilized nations she alone at this
hour is mistaken by the alarms OF
war. Even little Japan. remote
from the immediate scene Of conflict,
feels called upon to mobilize her
fleet. Our Canadian neighbors Of
fer $4,000 men to their motherland.
Australia. New Zealand and South
Africa join them in readiness to de-
fend the empire.
Here. in the United States, is Sc
renity amid the tumult of the world.
But IL is not time for self-right-
eousness or complacent pride. Yes
terday a Chicago preacher took for
his theme. Americans Are the On
ly Christians" Out on such pious
arrogance! Let us humbly accept
the responsibility that comes to us
in this crisis of the human race, the
responsibility of proving that a
self-controlled democracy may pos
sess a strength. breadth of vision
and a spirit of magnanimity impossi-
BILE of realization where men are
thralls to the king idea and slaves of
dynastic militarism.
We are distressed by the snug salts
faction with which some predict that
this Nation will prosper thru Eu-
ropes tribulation. Yesterday we
heard a man say. II had been hoping
there would be war so might pick
up some securities at bargain coun-
ter prices, and now they have clos
ed the stock exchanges and there is
no trading"
That shocks you. as 1t shocks US;
but it is the same spirit that gloats
over the prospects of national ad-
vantage out of cosmic misfor-
tune.
Whatever measure of benefit
comes to us. let 1t be accepted in
the spirit of stewardship rather than
in boastful self-congratulation. 1t
may be ours to minister to a strick-
en- continent, abased. impoverished,
starving. Never has history offer
ed such an opportunity to great
nation. Shall we not prepare to
meet it greatly?
But. tho good may come to us, we
can not hope to miss our share of
the burden. Even those who take
no part in the struggle will have to
pay part of the cost. so the world is
made today. We have been linked
too closely in the bonds of industry
and commerce not to suffer in COM
mon with others, altho the wound
fall directly ON them and not on
us.
When the war cloud first shadow
ed the Old World sky. wheat. the
staple of human existence. scared in
the pit. Men bought eagerly to
sell again at Europe's famine prices.
Then suddenly they awoke to- the
fact that transportation might be
impossible. Lloyd's refused insur-
ance. Ocean-going bulls In which
to carry the cargoes that meant
fortunes to their owners were una
valuable.
Then the crv went nm "Oh that