The chronicle=news., 1914-09-17
SANDBbGGIA 6
BELGIUM
From Golfers Weekly.

4
The apologists for Germany's wal
policy, including even such scholars
as Professors kuno Francke and
Hugo Munsterberg of Harvard uni
jversity. find 1t curiously convenient
to omit all mention of Belgium from
their dissertations. They prefer long
diatribes on race hatred and CONNER
cial Jealousy, endless hair-splittings
as to the intricate diplomatic chess
playing that preceded the explosion.
| But Belgium is the key to the
whole tragedy. 1t is over so years
now since Germany solcmnly guar
anteed the neutrality of that little
country. Bismark, for all his pol
icy of blood and iron, his harsh read
iness to break eggs to make omelette.
respected that promise during the
Franco-Prussian war. Not only did
the Germans not invade France by
the Belgian road in 1870, but they
gave up the project Of bringing back
their wounded by the shorter route.
through the neutral territory.
The present outbreak finds Ger
many doing her first hard fighting
against Belgium, not England or
France or Russia. The promises and
precedents OF over so years are
throw n to the winds, and the neu-
trail territory feels the hardest rigors
OF the war. The Germans go even
further and demand s40.00O.000
ransom from Brussels. which is tho
same thing as assaulting peaceful
citizen and then robbing him to pay
your expenses. The terrible thing Is
that these measures are taken nt the
very start OF the struggle, and are.
therefore. not the result of dire
necessity but OF the coolly and care
fully laid plans OF the German gem
eral staff. These plans must have
been known to the kaiser and must
have been approved by him. -
Germany, therefore, stands before
the world as the embodiment Of bru-
tai military force, a power to which
no promise Is sacred. This insane
autocracy no more represents German
culture than Croker or MurDhy repre-
sents American political life. These
power-crazed militarists at Berlin
have bet everything on winning. and
the future must show whether the
modern world can, tolerate any such
at the head of great government
and great people. This is why
public opin ion everywhere is against
the Germans and why It is justified.
A teacher who sees no moral wrong
in what Germany has done to Bel
Rium Is not our idea Of a good guide
for youth. The men we have In
mind are Professors ,Francke and
Professor Munsterberg Of Harvard. ;
lm ss A Criticism. ..pb 10 !.
[Colliers apparently is as ready TO
jump at conclusions or Is as ready to
take snap judgment in the case Of
the European war as they were In
the Colorado war when they sent a
man to Colorado who, after spend
ing two or three days with the red
neclis'' was able to outline the cause
of the strike and laid the blame en-
tirely on the shoulders of the operat-
ors. Golfers knows. and knew at the
time OF the publication OF this edi-
torial, that Germany was justified
in the action against Belgium. When
war seemed imminent. but before mo-
Utilization had been ordered by Ger
many, France sent 40 automobile
loads of officers and engineers to
Strengthen the forts, and this was
done with the consent--or at least
without opposition on the part OF
Belgium. This in itself was throwing
her lot with France and was hos
tile act toward Germany. II Bel sium
had maintained n neutral attitude
toward Germany there might have
been some grounds for the Judgment
rendered by Golfers. Pat that pub
lication itself is not SO careful as
to whom 1t attacks. It might be bet
ter II the editor was more careful as
to whom he attacked and before de
claring war" or beginning actual
hostilities II he would at least make
n careful investigation. Golfers, is
ri sht sometimes but too often, on
even the weightiest questions. takes
snap Judgment. Next week Golfers
is Just as likely as not to be on the
other side of the fence. Golfers edi-
tor is too prone to attack the judg-
ment Of men OF much superior intel
lcct to his own and he is frequently
found admitting that he was wrong
land apoliRizing for his Ignorance.
Golfers, up to two years ago, when
they lost their ablest editor. was q
higher class magazine than 1t is to-