Arizona republican., 1914-11-08

on both sides on helpless prisoners of
war were numerous and seemingly
well authenticated. Later informa
ton. however, has shown these .e
ports 10 be gross eXaggerations, and
in many instances wholly untrue. In
fact, there is evidence that less ma
tired and personal ill-will is shown
between the contending forces th9n
in any war in history. Paradoxical
as it may seem, | think the war is
Indicative of the beginning of the
end of race hatred and prejudice
which hereafter will tell nightly in
the interests of peace and concord
among the nations.
1t will be interesting to observe
the effect of the war upon socialism
whether it shall tend to the spread
Of sOcialistic ideas or shall divert
the stream OF European democracy
into another channel. Contrary 10
the expectation of those who have
made a study of sociological condi-
tons in Europe the sOcialistic pro-
paganda has for the time, at least,
broken down. The socialists of Ger .
many are, to man, enthusiastically
supporting the kaiser and his gov
eminent. To be sure, their excuse
for this is that in -Germanism
lies the hope of Europe. but, after
all, it seems to me il means simply
that race feeling is stronger tina n
devotion to any theory Of govern
ment. Curiously enough. discomfort
seems greatest when prosperity and
improved conditions are present, So
it may happen that the impoverish-
ment that will follow the war VIII
put an end, for the time at least, to
the socialistic propaganda. l do not
anticipate, AS some have predicted
that the defeat of Germany wiz
mean the end of monarchies. nor will
it probably end miitarism
To predict, also, that this will be
the last European war is, to M
mind, mere foolish optimism The
end of the Napoleonic era in Europe
left the nations in worse condition
than can possibly result from the
present war There is just as much
reason to expect that armament will
cease, that the nations will limit
their armies, stop building ships Cf
| war, and devote all their energies
to industrial pursuits as there was to
expect that the same thing would
happen after 1915 and no more Still
1t is reasonable to expect that pOliti-
! cal and sociological conditions in
| Europe will be profoundly affected
| and that Democracy in one of its
many forms will be established in
| Germany, in Austria. and possibly in
Russia. At least, larger participa-
| ton by the people in governmental
affairs may be expected. It may be
recalled that after the Crimean war
| the freedom of serfs followed in Rus
STA. That a more liberal government
under the car will follow seems evi
dent from the fact that the car has
promised autonomy to Poland under
conditions that will permit the Polish
people freedom of religion, trade and
| development. Better treatment of the
Jews is also promised, and that these
promises are taken as having been
made in good faith by the Jews in
Russia is shown by their support OF
the government in the present war
| What about the attitude and po-
sition of our own country now and
at the end of the war? Certainly
| there is no occasion to expect that
anything shall occur to drag us int
1t. There can be no question but
that we are all feeling its effects
and probably these will be more pro-
nounced as the war goes on, ou
these will be counterbalanced to some
extent by the revival of many of ON
industries and the extension OF ON
trade with Latin America Unfortu
nately. the policy of our government
has resulted in the wiping out of gu
merchant marine. If our government
is wise enough it will take advantage
of the present situation to build III
us to compete on even terms wit
other sea going nations at the en-
of the war. We ought also to tax
advantage of the opportunity to es
ftablish and better trade relation
with South America and with tn
Orient on basis that will mean
:, permanent enlargement of our for
elgn commerce. Relatively. we shout
be in a much stronger position oe
cause of the war than we otherwis
would have been. But another OF
: portunity, and. perhaps. one muc
more worthy, awaits us. With II
/ exception Of Italy, we are the OF
; great world power that is free fro
= any ENHANCEMENT in the war, an
this puts in position to gain pre-: