Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-06

success. The sacrifices they have to
make, the suffering they have to I'M
derge are generally such that if vie
tory does not rest upon their banners
they seek a scapegoat fer that which
they themselves have brought ON in
the head OF the state, and the king or
emperor who begins war or allows
one to begin puts at stake not only
the prestige Of his nation, but also the
stability and integrity of his dynasty
In such a war as this, therefore,
with the universal tendency to popu-
lar control in every country, the strain
and defeat in war may lead to a state
of political aux in those countries
which shall suffer defeat, with all the
attendant difficulties and disorder that
change Of government involves.
While we can be sure that such a
war as this, taking it by and large,
win be a burden upon the United
States and is great misfortune.
looked at solely from the standpoint
of the United States, we have every
reason to be happy that we are able
to preserve strict neutrality in respect
to 1t. Within our hospitable bound
aries we have living prosperous and
centented emigrants In large numbers
from all the countries who are to take
part in the war. and the sympathies Of
these people will of course be with
their respective native lands. Were
there NO other season this eircum-
stance would tend to keep us free
from any ENHANCEMENT.
We may sincerely hope that Japan
will not be involved. She will not be
unless the war is carried on to the far
Orient, to India or to China, Germany
has but a small settlement In the
Orient, while France and Russia and
England would be allies in this war
and 1t would seem quite unlikely that
there would arise any obligation I'M
der the English Japanese alliance for
Japan to assist England.
OF the great powsfs Of the world.
therefore, the only ones left out are
likely to be the United States and
japan, ana perhaps only the United
States, by reason Of the alliance be-
tween Japan and England. japan, If
she keeps out of the war, will occupy
the same advantageous position.
which will be ours, of complete rieu
trality, Of an actually judicial attitude,
and therefore, of having an opporttn.
lty at Some time, we may hope, TO
mediate between the powers and 10
neip to mitigate this disaster to man
kind
At the time when so many friends OF
peace have Thought that we were
making real progress toward fire
abolition Of var this Sudden outbreak
OF the greatest war in history is most
diseouraging. The future looks dark
indeed. but we should not despair.
God moves iii mysterious way
His wonders to perform" Now that
the war is d settled fact, we must
hope that some good may come from
this dreadful seourge. The arma.
fiients Of Europe had been growing
heavier and heavier, bankruptcy has
stared many of the nations IN the
face. conflict between races had ber,,n
to develop
war seemed likely at some stare
and the question which each country
had to answer for itself was at what
time the situation would be most
favorable for its success. The i'm
mediate participants have decided
that the time has come and through
their international alliances all Europe
is involved.
There has been no real test Of the
heavy armament on land or water as
developed by modern invention and
hi te 70 4.
we'll spent for war purposes and what
has been wasted. II is by no means
certain that waste will not exceed In