The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-09-15

Il was living IN Paris IN loto anu
had a presentimen1 of coming war
and revolution. | left Paris in March
of that year and went to London
France declared war against Germany
in the following July, the event com
ing as q great shock to the Parisians-
l had warned my French friends.
I'm like | predicted the
war between Russia and China. the
war between Japan and Russia. and
the BOer war in South Africa. Three
years before that event stated in an
article in the london Echo that the
year 1899 would usher in trouble for
England on a big scale. This long
wal came as a bolt out of the blue. NO
one expected the Boer farmers to
fight as they did. The English re-
garded this war as a picnic amid
orange groves until they were in South
Africa six months. Nothing is more |
difficult than to get Einglishmen who |
have never lived abroad to see things
as they are. No no oratory, |
no persuasion, no statement Of hard
facts and figures, ever a any i'm
preston on the average English mind.
l have heard typical middle class
EngliShmen say that so long as they
live we'll it matters not whether King
George or the Kaiser presides at Buck
ingham Palace.
Spirit of LaiSScz Faire.
1.-THE leading characteristic of the
masses is a spirit of laiSSez faire.
After us the deluge.' was the remark
made to me by a distinguished man
holding a high position in London. /
was much surprised, having known
him as one of the most serious men
of my acquaintance. After US the de-
LUCE has been the motto of the typical
I1nglishman for a long time. Com
ing events do not worry the masses
of london. Yet they will revolt should
they feel the pangs OF prolonged fam
inc. In that case London Woul be
turned into a p~andenoniun Of blind
rage. In a weeks time London would
b worse off than Paris was during
the Prussian invasion of 1870.
What is saving England from de
Struction in this war is the neutrality
Of America There is still a POSSIBLE
ity of getting enough grain to Eng
land to prevent famine. But no mat
ter what happens in the near future,
things in England can never again be
run on the same old lines Of politi-
cal cant and titled buffoonery.
What England wins will be dearly
5 paid for; what she loses will be lost
forever, and if Americans possess the
l necessary vision they will now doIni-
nate the financial and political forces
of the world. But they must remem-
t Der that financial sm%artness is M
sign of wisdom Some thousands OF
: years ago q prophet named Isaiah
: declared that, They who err in vision
stumble in Judgment
What do you mir America has
. to fear from this war Mr.. Grierson -
was asked.
"Ail in America who are not dream.
r ers," he declared, must expect a time
t when the leading European nations
$ tired of being hemmed in and foTce1
q to live in political and economical re
v straint, will band together to seek {
portion Of that mHch coveted region
e that lies south Of the Rio Grande L
e England gains an OvermaSterlng vic
Il tory in the present war it will not b
2 long before she will impose condition
On American m which coult
not be accepted without loss OF pa
d triotism and national power. ]
Al Germany triumphs much the sam
IN thing will result. America must pos
sess a powerful navy, as well as
fleet Of merchantmen.
1.-THE present war will touch tn
lie social bedrock OF Europe. In Franc
sy it will penetrate to the core Of SO
a ciety. In that country the war WI
ne turn eight things inside out: politics
OF society, literature, art, music, scienc'
FL, religion, socialism. Society will b
e. moved to its foundations-6rst by til
he number OF it's leaders who will fall ]
battle, second by the rediStributiO
= Of private fortunes consequent On {
many deaths, third by the long periO
of mourning to follow. Nothing WI
no remain as it was. Partisan social Ii,
IN will change as by magic. The gre
ne families OF rank will abandon Par
and take refuge in their chateau
h and the leading mansions Of the ca
ital will be barred to fashion al
wv gayety for q to come. In Il
IA highest circles only relatives will r
or ceiye relatives.
he "O,,v thos. -a .,,u tho inn
life of france can imagine what t
conditions will be. Only those W
know the country life OF France "
vas be able to grasp the full meaning
est the present ordeals. No one from I
raj highest to the lowest will escape t
put consequences Of a war that will pier
sed to the centre every section, eve
Or Cvoun pvoFV famlfy. All the Unfl