The Ocala evening star., 1914-08-11

Garden of Eden are coveted by both
Germany and Great Britain, and we
may hear strange news from the
Persian gulf ere peace pacts are
signed.
War Makes Strange BedfeIIows
While anybody can understand
how religious and racial spirit
makes Russia play the big brother
to the little Balkan states, and to as
sumo the protection of Greek Christ
ians thruout Asia, the paradoxes of
modern political alliances appear
when protestant Great Britain, the
ancient critic of Russian religious
intolerance, is found to he the fight
ing ally of this her recent foe; with
France, until recently, an officially
Roman Catholic nation, completing
the triumvirate of religious faiths
Opposing Catholic France is Cath
olic Austria, cheek by jowl with Pro-
testant Germany. What would
Luther have said could he have seen
his Germany, the defender and ally
of the Pope's best friend among the
nations? And, as to make the line
up still more Heterogeneous, Italy
may cast her lot with Austria, her
hereditary foe.
Meanwhile, the Slavs in the Aus
trian empire who hold to their re-
hgious and racial allegiance above
their national ties, are sympathizing
with the foes of their country's flag.
Did such strange cross-currents ever
before flow across a page of history?
Mankind's New AIlegiances
This world crisis has set thought
'ful persons to studying anew exist
ing international conditions. They
find each days dispatches a fresh
sermon upon the text that mo man
liveth to himself, and no man dieth
to himself That is true of nations.
War in Europe sets guniboats to pre-
pairing in the Yangste river in China,
and a British fleet to sailing from it's
North Chinese port, while diplomatic
circles discuss the possible conse-
quences of fighting between the in
ternational guards in Peking. Mean
while, all over the earth, steamship
sailings are halted and the worlds
travel and commerce are paralyzed.
Deeper yet runs new condition
Here we find, as notable in Austria,
that men are more loyal to race and
religion than to nationality Also
by the meeting of workingmen to
discuss a strike against war, we per-
ceive that men may be more loyal to
their class than to their country.
The femfnists propose sex loyalty
that shall transcend all others.
VIII be New Alignment
This means nothing less than that
an entire new alignment of life's
great allegiances is under way. The
growth of the world spirit and world
mind has been exposed at the ex-
pense of hostoric loyalties. Perhaps
lAC nlSlOIy OI Will not DG
written in terms of nations, but of
other and vaster units.
A few years ago, over in Alexand-
ria, Egypt, Abbas Effendi, the head Of
the Behaists, in speaking of the pos
sibilities of world peace, said that he
expected great world war which
would oyerWhelm humanity. Then
having in this bitter school learned
the lesson of waste and cost and
needlessness of the anachronism of
war, the world would enter upon the
long-dreamed era of universal peace.
That prophecy is also the judgment
of most trained observers on inter
national conditions. The Bosnian
student whose mad pistol slaughter
ed the heir to the throne has sudden
ly called all mankind to school, to
learn the lesson of peace and
brotherhood. written in letters of
blood and fire.