The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-11-12

We all remember President Wilson,
and Secretary Bryan's efforts in thai
direction year or two ago. Germany
fatty refused even. to consider
treaty of arbitration. The Kaiser anC
his tjre eating Teutons. who now so IN
dustrioUsly endeavor to throw the
blame onto the other fellows shoulder:
for the state Of things now existing
would not be bound by any agreement
that might in any way hamper Ger
many's action in the future.
''ln time of peace prepare for war. =
Does that hackneyed phrase sound
familiar to you? We all have heard il
often enough to know il by heart
Where or by whom it was originated
do not know, but that the military fan
atics. the jingo element and the whole
gun, cannon, and weapon industry In
the world. especially on the continent
of Europe. have applied the meaning OF
the phrase to the best advantage fol-
themselves, that is notorious since the
Krupp and military scandals in Ger.
many last year.
They have indeed prepared for wal
to the utmost Of their ability, but some
have evidently succeeded better than
others by forcing matters beyond the
limit. A short time before Beelzebut
broke his bounds high German official
referring to the above mentioned
phrase expressed himself frankly, be.
cause the time was ripe and there was
no longer need of secrecy, and his
words carry a significance which in the
light of later events is easily under
stood. He said: Better an end with
terror than a terror without end" Ev-
IDENTIFY Germany was overprepared and
something had to burst.
The combination of the great powers
in Europe, the triple alliance and the
triple entente. were formed, we are
told, for the purpose of preserving in
ternational balance. How we'll these
combinations served the alleged pur-
pose and the final grand result is evil
dent. Instead of two warning nations
trying to right a fancied wrong, we
will soon, practically speaking, behold
most of the Civilized" peoples in the
world more or less mixed up in horri-
BILE game of death and destruction.
Yes. said game, because it is a game,
a most royal one, sport incompatible,
an entertainment worthy of imperial
autocrats and their war-crazed off
spring, who care as much for a human
life as | care for fly in swatting
time.
Some of US have been made half to
believe that preparedness for war
would prevent war, and if we occasion
ally have doubted this jingo axiom the
doubt has instantly been quelled by
the argument that our emaciated intel
lect could not fathom a wisdom intend
ed for gods.
But was there ever greater fsllacy
propounded which has gained such
world wide reputation for containing
an almost Solomonic wisdom in a few
words? Never have the nations been
so well prepared for killing each other
and never has such butchering been
done as is now going on on the conti-
nent of Europe.
As long as there are autocratic and
near -autocratic rulers who maintain
and the great mass of their inenlight-
ened subjects are made to believe that
these rulers power and glory and right
to rule are conferred upon them by the
grace of God, who in his infinite wis.,
dom has endowed them, and only them,
with the necessary qualifications for
their high offices,s so long will also wars
occur.
There are no limitations for the self
!shness of Hapsburg or Hohenzoll-
ern. Any danger threatening their
dynasty must be removed, any living
being, or beings, that seriously dares
to deny that these rulers are rulers by
the grace of God, is treated as an inf
del, blasphemer.
A French republic and free and
democratic government like the English
or the Italian is not only an abomina-
tion in their sight, but positive dam
ger to themselves and all professional
soldiery upon which rest their throne
and their power. This fear of Liberal
ism and liberal movements is nothing
new. We recall the covenant, the so
called Holy Alliance. formed in sl8l5, |
think, by the rulers of Russia, Austria.
Prussia and Spain, for the purpose of
counteracting and stamping out the
strong republican and democratic move
ments of that time. The Holy Alliance
was, perhaps. especially directed against
the United States, because the politi-
cal, financial and ethical influence of
the young but vigorous republic began
to make itself felt in the old blythe
grace-of.Go monarchies of Europe.
Danger to the rotten autocratic insti-
tutions was vibrating the air and made
the thrones somewhat shaky. But all
efforts to strangle democratic move
ments failed.
Now, mind you. the Hapsburgs, the
Hohenzollerns and the Romanovs of
today are certainly no better than their
forebears were a hundred years ago.
Their personal and political ambitions
are the same although partly masked.
Their professional soldiery, the mill
tary cast, is more dangerous because
more powerful. But of course we
must have. soldiers in order to preserve
the peace and keep order among the
masses. What would become of prime
es, dukes, counts and barons if the
military caste was abolished? Would
he not be like unto common mortal?
Away with thought. The military cast
must be maintained at all hazards the
professional soldiery of the Hapsburgs
and the Hohenzollerns must, now when
they are fully prepared. prove their su-
periority in their profession over the
whole world. A pretext is at hand.
A prince of the house Of Hapsburg is
shot by crazy Servian school boy,
war is declared right and left and the
slaughter begun.
Russia must be crushed, swore the
Kaiser, or we will never have peace in
Europe. And while making this asser-
tion the great war lord at the same
time directed the best and largest part
of his army. not against unspeakable
Russia, but against small and weak
nation whose neutrality the Kaiser 8
own government had guaranteed. And
SO the fair and fertile acres of demo-
cratic Belgium and republican france
are drenched in the red warm blood
not only of their brave defenders, but
also in that of their wives and children.
Yes, there will be wars and rumors
of wars as long as there are autocratic
and near-autocratic rulers on the
thrones of nations. There will always
be dangers of war breaking ont in anv