The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-07


good faith: ana furthermore that We are
both able and ready to put might behind
right
As I have before said, think that the
party in Germany which believes in .
policy OF aggression represents minority
OF the nation. 1t IL powerful only because
pie are rightfully In fear Of aggression
at the expense OF Germany, and sanction
striking only because they fear lest they
themselves be STRUCK Tne greatest ser
would be to convince Germany. as well
as other powers that in such event We
would do all we could ON behalf Of the
power that was wronged. Extremists in
England, France and Russia talk as Il
the proper outcome of the present war
would be the utter Acknowledgement OF
such as that which followed for her upon
the Thirty Years War. I have actually
received letters from Frenchmen and
Englishmen upbratding me for what they
regard as a pro-German leaning In these
articles 1 have written. To these well
meaning persons can only say that
bitterness felt by NOrtherners for South
erners, and Southerners for Northerners.
at the end of the Civil War, are saddened
peoples should show like bitterness !
can only repeat that to dismember and
hopelessly shatter Germany would be q
as the Acknowledgement and SCATTERING OF
public would be. 1t is right that the
United states should regard primarily its
own interest. But 1 believe that
speak for q considerable number Of my
countrymen when II say that we ought
Above all we should do as the present
administration does; for 1t refuses TO-
take any concrete action in favor OF any
nation which is wronged: and yet 1T also
refuses to act SO that we may ourselves
be sufficient for our own protection.
We ought not to trust in words un-
ey We should ALSO be
ready and able to join in preventing the
infliction of disaster of the kind OF which
speak upon Dnth Amy ei w powee Or En
land. Belgium or Hungary. Russia or
Japan.
right, and of duty to. others In inter-
national affairs. Now for our duty to
ourselves.
Standard International Morality Low.
sincere desire to act well toward 9TH
err nations must not blind us to the TACT
that as yet the standard Of international
morality is both low and irregular: Tne
behavior of the great military empires OF
the Old World, In reference to their
treaty obligations and their moral ob!1ga-
TONS toward countries such as Belgium
Finland and Korea. shows that 1t would
be utter folly for us in any grave crisis
to trust to anything save our own pre-
paredness and resolution for our safety.
The other day there appeared in the
newspapers extracts from a translation
of a report made by general OF the
operations by Germany in the event Of
war with America. Great surprise was
expressed by innocent Americans that
such plans should be In existence, ana
private individuals stated unOnicfally
| that the account was Observation-Disclosures
there were no official denials Neither
the resentment expressed, nor yet the de-
mails of fact. were necessary. One feat
ure of the admirable preparedness In
which Germany and Japan stand SO far
above all other nations. and eespeciauy
GRAFTON OF hostilities with all possible an
tagonists- Bernhardi's famous books
treat OF possible war with austria ana
possible attack by Austria upon Ger
many, although the prime lessons that
they teach are those contained IN ire
possibility of war a. it has actually &C
lance This does not indicate German
hostility to Austria; 1t merely indicates
German willingness to look squareiy IN
quite properly, the German general stan
has carefully considefed the question OF
he stfhties with America, and douotiess
and provision at the fime when there was
friction between the two countries over
Samoa. at the time when Admiral Diet
and on the later occasion when there was
friction in connection with Venezueia rms
dit not represent German tlwlll toward
america.
proper and commonsense consideration
Of possibilities by Germany's rulers; anu
tie failure to give this consioeration
would have reflected severely upon , ses5
plans a{ist would be chidisn. 70 ran 10
profit by our knowledge that they Ger
tainly do exist would however. ne not
self become personally cognizant OF the
existence of such plans. and OF the larger
features of their details In two cases, as
! nm
| The essential feature OF these plans
has been the seizure of some OF our great
coast cities. and the terrorization or these
cities SO as to make them give ENORMOUS
ransoms; ransoms OF such size that
our own country would be crippled
whereas our foes would be enabled to run
profit to themselves. These plans are
based. of course, upon the BELIEF tnat We
have not sufficient foresight and 1ntelli-
eence to keep our navy .r IN i the be .ns
but the knowledge that our regular army
| is SO small and our utter unprepareoness
otherwise SO great that on itna ,eG MTate
sized expediti0nary force belonsIng 10 any
first class military power. Foreign mill
tary and naval observers know wen tna .
or navy has been used during the last
year or so in connection with the Mexi-
can situation in such manner as 10 &C
conplish the minimum OF resuiss as re- e
| do the maximum of DAMAGE IN lnteIIup--
ing the maneuvering and the gun pract1Cc
! of our fleets. They regard Messrs- VIII
SON and Bryan as representatives OF the
American people in their entire inaoiiity
to understand the real nature OF tne
/ forces that underlie international reia-
tions and the Importance OF preparedness
They are entirely cold FLOODED In tneii
views of us. Foreign rulers may oespise
us for our supine unpreparedness. and
for our readiness to make treaties taken
| together with our refusal to fulfill these
treaties by seeking to avert wrong done
to others. But their contempt will not
prevent their using this nation as arbitel
in order to bring about peace II to DO &c
frarv one or the other Of the severa
great military empires becomes the worle
1 h. If this thai