Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-24
Beginning New Age for Mankind

One does not have to be in Europe
| to realize the black eclipse into which
| the world has so suddenly fallen.
There rests upon the entire American
nation feeling of profound anxiety
and depression. Universal regret
! describes the attitude of mind on the
part of all classes Of Americans.
| One of the most hopeful develop
ments in our national life has been
the growing dislike for war. Presi-
dent Wilson, although much maligned
for his policy of watchful waiting,
was backed by an overwhelming ma
jority in the country at large in his
patient and nerve-wrecking attempt
to discharge his obligations to Mexico
without an appeal to arms. The
European war will solidify the peace
sentiment Of America into a perma-
nent attitude.
We are being furnished with p
demonstration on a gigantic scale OF
the solidarity Of the world. The
United States is not at war. But
every section of the country is suffer-
ing acutely from the effects Of war
being waged three thousand miles
away. To mention a few of the diff
culties which accrue to the innocent
bystander during this titanic strug-
gle: We have first of all several hun
bred thousand of our citizens ma
rooned in different parts of Europe;
tales of suffering and danger are
heard from every quarter; the gov
eminent has dispatched one of it's
warships with sS,000,000 in gold for
the use of it's exiled citizens; there is
talk of calling upon the transport Sec
ton of the navy for bringing home
our people; American tourists are
finding travel in Europe at the pres
emit moment as difficult and exciting
as though they were exploring some
unknown continent.
It Is human nature to bear UP under
the affections of our friends, so that,
apart from those Immediately in
volveJ, the country at large would
not feel serious Inconvenience from
the sufferings of our exiled compa-
triots. But the black shadow of I'M
certainty has fallen over the entire
business life of America. Drastic gov
eminent Intervention by the issuance
of immense sums of special currency,
by the closing of stock exchanges, by
the cooperation of the banking in
terests with the treasury department
at Washington have averted panic.
For a number Of years business has
been receiving continuous discipline
at the hands OF the government, SO
that business men everywhere are in
fine training to endure hardship. But
no one can form any reliable forecast
of the future If the British navy
sweeps Germany from the seas there
will be abundant outlet for our sur
plus food products. Already private
and governmental efforts are being
made to open new markets in South
America and Asia. But it takes time
and experience to turn the streams of
trade into new channels. After these
efforts have been crowned with sue
cess, there is no market in the world
to compare in value with that of
Europe. Prices are soaring, money Is
being boarded, manufacturing Is at a
standstill and the whole economic
structure Is temporarily out of joint
In addition to these disastrous eff
fects, there is continuous deple-
ton of our working population by the
recall of reservists to fight for their
homeland and by the cutting off of
the stream of immigration.
The American people are facing the
situation with fortitude. The fact that
we have promise of exceptionally
good crops helps to steady the public
mind. The important financial legis-
lation which has been enacted under
the leadership of President Wilson
has been practically completed in the
organization of the Reserve Board,
| and there is hope that some means
may be found of rehabilitating Amer
lean shipping, since England and Ger
many are unable to hold the place of
supremacy they have long held.
After everything has been done, the
| fact remains that the catastrophe
struggle In Europe will mean I'M
thinkable loss for the United States.
Like a lightning flash, the war has
revealed how closely interviewer is
the commercial fabric of the civilized
world. At this point, possibly more
than any other, men are looking for
an instrument which will bring the
maddened governments Of the Euro
pean continent to their senses.
/ The attitude of the United States to