Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-10-13

Why We Do Not Favor Germany
Continued from page -
plies to long.past acts of the German
government, ~ we'll a to ito proceedings
In the present war-as, for example, to
the taking OF Sobleswig-Holstein and
IS we'll a. to the pro-
jec.ed occupation of Belgium.
% Americans object strenuously to
the violation of treaties between nations
On the allegation OF military necessity or
for any other reason whatever. They
believe that the progress of civilization
will depend in future on the general
acceptance OF the ssnctity OF contracts
or solemn agreements between nations
and on the development by common con.
sent OF international law. The neutral
ization treaties, the arbitration treaties,
The Hague conferences, and some OF the
serious attempts at mediation, although
mono of them 60 far enough, and many
of them have been rudely violated on
occasion, illustrate strong tendency IN
the civilized parts of the world to pre-.
vent international ware by means OF
agreements deliberately made 10 time of
peace.
The United States has proposed and
made more of these agreements than any
other power, has adhered to them, and
profited by them. Under one such
agreement, made nearly hundred years
ago, Canada and the United States have
avoided forts aud ornaments against
each other, although they have had So
rious differences OF opinion and clashes
Of interests, and the frontier is 5000 miles
long and for the most part without
natural barriers. Cherishing the hope
that the peace of Europe and the rights
of it's people may be secured through
solemn compacts (which should include
the establishment OF permanent inter
national judicial tribunal, supported by
an international force), Americans see,
in the treatment by the German govern
ment of the Belgium naturalization
treaty as nothing bat piece OF paper
which might be torn up on the ground
Of military necessity, evidence OF the
adoption By Germany of q retrograde
policy of the most alarming sort. That
single act on the part of Germany-the
violation of the neutral territory OF Bel
gium-would have determined American
opinion in favor of the allies, II it had
stood alone by itself-the reason being
that American hopes for the peace and
order of the world are based on the
sanctity Of treaties.
OUR DIFFERENT IDEALS.
(e) American public opinion, how
ever, has been greatly shocked In other
ways BY the German conduct of the war.
The American common people see no
justification for the dropping OF bombs,
to which no specific aim can be given,
into cities and towns chiefly inhabited
by non. com batants, the burning or blow
ing up of large portions OF unfortified
towns and cities, the destruction OF
precious monuments and treasures OF art,
the strewing of floating mines through
the North Sea, the exacting of ransoms
from cities and towns under threat OF
destroying them, and the holding OF un-
armed citizens as hostages for the peace
able behavior of q large population under
threat of summary execution OF the
hostages in case of any disorder.
All these seem to Americans unneces.
sary, inexpedieut, and uDjustifiable
methods of warfare, sure to breed hatred
and contempt toward the nation that
uses them, and therefore to make It diff
cult for future generations to maintain
peace and order 10 Europe. They cannot
help imagining the losses civilization
would 81 fer If the Russians should ever
carry into Western Europe The kind OF
war which the Germans are now wagipg
in Belgium and France. They have snip.
posed that war was to be waged in this
century only against public, armed forces
aud their supplies and shelters.
These opinions and prepossessions on
the part of the American people have
obviously grown out OF the ideals which
the early English colonists carried with
them to the American wilderness in the
18th century, out of the long fighting
and public discussion which preceded
the adoption of the constitution OF the
United States in the 18th century and
out of the peculiar experiences OF the
free common " ealths which make up the
United States as they have spread across
the almost uninhabited continent during
the past 1925 years.
The experience and the situation OF
modern Germany have been utterly diff.
ferent. Germany was divided for CEN
turtles into discordant parts, had ambi.
tious and martial neighbors, and often
felt the weight of their attacks. Out OF
war came accessions of territory for
Prussia, and at last German unity. The
reliance of intelligent and patriotic Ger
many ON military force as the basis of
national greatness is natural result OF
its experiences. Americans, however,
believe that this reliance Is unsound,
both theoretically and practically. The
wars In Europe since 1901, the many
threateniugs OF war and the present
catastrophe seem to Americans to DEM
onstrate that no amount OF military pre-.
pareduess on the part OF the nations OF
Europe can possibly keep the peace OF
the continent or, indeed, prevent fire.
quent explosions Of destructive warfare.
They think, too, that preparation for
war on the part Of Germany better than
any of her neighbors can make will not
keep her at peace ar protect her from
invasion, even If this better preparation
include advantages OF detail which have
been successfully kept secret. All the
nations which surround Germany are
capable of developing a strong fighting
spirit; and all the countries of Europe,
except England and Russia, possess the
means of quickly assembling and getting
into action great bodies OF men. In
other words, all the European states are
capable of developing passionate patri.
otism, aud all possess the railroads,
roads, convey ances, telegraphs and tele'
phones which make rapid mobilization
possible.
No perfection of military forces, and
no amount of previous study Of feasible
cam psigns against neighbors, can give
peaceful security to Germany in the
present condition of the great European
states. In the actual development Of
weapons and munitions, and Of the art
OF quick intrenching, the attacking force
in battle on land is at great disadvan.
tage in comparison with the force on the
defensive. That means indecisive battles
and ultimately an indecisivs war, unless
each party is resolved to push the war to
A. ~ ,,k;on and hu m M 10 tiOn of