The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-10-08
HISTORY OF THE DAY.

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existing conditions across the water, and
when we attempt to picture the sore plight
of war-ridden Europe the heart sickens
and mental processes fail. We are far
enough away, however, to be able to view
with calmness the mighty struggle as each
new development takes place but as we
contemplate its inevtab BILE results it is diff
cult to assume the roles of disinterested
spectators. We are living in an age of
progress but history while you wait has
been as yet an untred feat. To-day, how
ever, although we of America are far re-
moved from the tramp of marching bat
talions, the beat of drums and the roar Of
artillery, we feel it in the blood, and we
know that we are watching the unfolding
of a new page in life's great history book.
Already it is smeared with the blood Of
many; how soon will it be dyed with the
lfetide of millions. The slumbering devils
of conquest-greed of empire and thirst
for power-have awakened in the hearts of
men who call themselves civilized and, as
in the days of old when barbarians met
barbarians on the field of battle and wrestled
for power and gain and glory and all the
emoluments Of war so to-day, nOtwlth-
standing the influence of an enlightened
civilization to which We have pointed with
pride, the carnage of old is re- enacted with
the added curse which the latest develop
ments in the science of warfare make pos
sible. History records the fierce conflicts
which were waged at different periods Of
the world's progress, conflicts which shook
nations to their foundations and caused
new countries to rise from out Of the ruins
of the old, conflicts which again and again
demonstrated the law of the survival of
the fittest, but notwithstanding their at
tendant horrors the records show nothing
comparable to the warfare that is now rag
ing in ''far flung battle lines" on the other
side of the Atlantic. One by one the
mighty powers have fallen into line; one
by one they bid farewell to the last hope Of
peace; one by one they have reared their
affairs Of sacrifice.
We may discuss the causes which brought
on this tremendous struggle and consider
this phase and that probability which may
develop but after all is said and done in
vestigation will only disclose conflict
which has no excuse from the viewpoint of
a broad humantarinism. The call of
patriotism is noble one, but it offers up
its victims nevertheless, and the patriots
who respond to their countries calls to-day
have gained nothing by living in this So
called age of true progress and civilization.
They are but pawns upon vast chestboard
and are moved from place to place at the
will Of the players whose game is the des-
tiny Of nations. 1t would be hard enough
if the motive of the game was good and
sufficient but when that motive is of the
kind that has plunged almost the whole of
Europe into its present straights we can
but admit that the spirit of Humanitarian
ism is as far from the heart of man to- day
as it was in older and cruder years when
the penalties of strife and dissension were
not 50 fully recognized as they are sup
posed to be to-day. 1t seems impossible
for human nature to outgrow itself, as it
were. We appear to progress to certain
stage and to thrive under the beneficient
influence of a widespread brotherhood of
interests, but always there is something
wanting, something lacking, something
vitality necessary to complete the whole,
and in the light of recent events to-day
finds US as far down in the scale OF that
higher and truer civilization to which we
say we aspire as any people at any stage
of the worlds history.
Meanwhile, DEATH in martial array, is
taking its tolls on sea and land and in the
the air. The boom of cannon sounds over
VIZ "dtOiS ilOul W sup duQ tlIeu 3
souls fare forth to meet their God; storms
OF shot and shell tear over lowlands and
highlands and crumpled forms are left to
tell the story: and messages of death drop
from ships that ride the air upon those who
know not where to turn. Are we proud of
these achievements? Does the world at
large approve of the terrific conflict over
the seas? There can be but one answer to
these questions, and that answer is born
of keen humiliation and disappointment
Peace conferences are seemingly in vain
for the lust for power is still uppermost in
the human heart as the record of the last
two months will show. We thought we
were making history when we held great
conventions for the purpose of world wide
peace; we thought we were making history
when eager philanthropists helped to solve
our economic questions; We thought we
were making history when we kept the
dogs of war at bay for many years; but
these processes were too slow and hack
neyed and it has remained for this genera
ton to experience the novel sensation of
viewing with startled gaze the operation of
another wonder Of the world-the greatest
war of the centuries.
There can be no doubt that while MANY
of the German soldiers are lust as iinpois.