Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-18
Germany Fights for Existence In
: Present War; Conflagration is Not
Of Its Making, Says Noted German

enough to cope with the Franken-
stein they have set UP.
IF Russia wins, England and Ger
many lose together. But If Germa,
should triumph 1t is still a crushing
defeat for Britain. Our sympathies
are strongest. of course. for father
land; but we cannot help giving a lit
tie pity to unfortunate England. risk
Ing everything in d hopeless war out
Of which 1t is Hsib1e for her to
gain vantage.
IF Germany wins. that will be the
end of armament on the European
continent. This Is Russia's last chance
TO master the world. II she fails now
revolution breaks out and the car
ceases to be a world figure of the first
class. If Germany beats France the
second time in half a century the
French will give UP all hope of recov-
cry of the eastern provinces and will
be willing to Join universal disarma-
ment. So. also, with England. Once
Germany has driven back the Cossack
menace to Europe, the German people
will ask for disarmament. That will
pc the end OF modern militarism.
IL anyone supposes the German
people are infatuated with the wal
game and the army top he is mistak-
en-. The only justification for Ger
many's great military activity and
burden of recent years is the events
of today-the dire need Of waging a
war Of self-preservation. Remove that
danger in future by destruction Of
Russian ambition. and Germany's
Throughout forty years the Ger
man people have been making steady
progress toward democratic govern
ment. The people of Germany now
more political liberty than ever
before. Even the most radical social
lists admit that. And during twenty
six of these years the present kaiser
has been on the throne.
In all these tWenty-six years, the
kaiser has never been al war. More
than once he has preserved the peace
OF Europe and would have succeeded
IN maintaining it now had it not been
for the determination of the car to
seize the opportunity to use his ally
catspaw of the west ito stop revoiu-
ton at hon and immeasurably
strengthen Russia abroad. s
IF the kaiser had been the war
lord SO many Americans are fond OF
picturing him, only awaiting convent
ent opportunity to start a campaign
of aggression and acquisition, it is
strange that he took no advantage Of
the Boer war or the Russo-Japanese
war. but steadily stood for peace.
Emperor Williams ambition has
been to leave behind him a greater,
righer, more prosperous, happier Ger
many. Hence he has opposed war. He
has been accused Of Xanity-it is easy
to say such things about any great,
strong man. But We Germans know
that the kaiser has always considered
his greatness was the greatness Of
Germany. It is also Easy to say Ger.
many seeks territorial conquest, wants
to rule the world and set up Teutonic
empires oversee. But after the war
Of 1865, in which Germany defeated
Austria ina few days.: Germany could
taken all the territory she want
ed, but took nothing and Austria has
been her friend ever since.
After the French war Germany, Of
course. was able to dictate terms, but
took only Alsace. formerly German.
and a part Of Lorraine. simply for
protection - buffer provinces. In
victory Germany has been. 80 moderate
that II is idle to accuse her Of land
The German people saw this war
afar on; they are not surprised that
It ma come. They have, known that
sooner or later they would be ON
pslied to hsht for their existence. Now
they are unanimously behind the gov
eminent. They realize the serious
ness OF the crisis and are prepared to
make every sacrifice necessary