United labor bulletin., 1914-10-10


| warriors OF neighboring rulers for lit
tie else than to crafty their love for
battle. and TOO often to satisfy their
| lust for blood.
Their games were mimic warfare.
| They found pleasure i'll watching slaves
and eaptives and often their own sub
| jects in athletic contests" which were
regarded as successful only when blood
| flowed freely. The vanquished, if the
| mood of the mobiles was not charitable,
paid for their misfortune or their want
| OF prowess with their lives.
Great generals of past ages have
saged war primarily from love of the
war game. Some We're ambitious for
laurels. which could be won only on
the field of battle. Some We're inspired
to conflict by desire to extend the pow
! er and influence of their thrones and to
punish powerful national enemies Some
were obsessed with the fatal dream OF
world empire. But all were lovers OF
the war game and counted not the cost
in human suffering when they began to
play it.
Alexander the Great. after humbling
the enemies of Macedonia. followed his
lust for battle into lands which the
fame OF his growing kingdom had never
reached Blinded by successes at arms
and untouched by the misery and suf-
fering he caused. he aspired to establish
himself as ruler OF the world. Yet he
was always more ambitious to conquer
than to rule.
Julius Caesar. though a statesman OF
extraordinary ability, was a soldier
first. and established for himself and
hi family a throne by reason OF the
frightful punishment he inflicted upon
the barbaric enemies OF Rome and rich
spoils he wrested from them and car
ried back with his victorious armies to
the Eternal city.
Hannibal. who at the tender age Of
nine swore eternal hatred 10 Rome, was
horn to the love of armed conflict. The
blood Of more than 100000 Romans
warriors. old men. women and children
was she'd to crafty his lust FOR bat
tie and his devotion 10 the oath OF his
hoyhood.
Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan led
their A-iatic hordes into Europe more
TO satisfy their lust for war and con-
quest than 10 find new homes for their
subjects Charles MI OF Sweden and
Peter the Great OF RUSSIA We're devotees
of war and both loved IT for itself, al
though Peter was led to his later con-
flicts chiefly to extend the Russian
domuious.
Napoleon perhaps the greatest mill
tary genius the world ha- known. was
lover of the war game. His Italian
and Egyptian campaigns were inspired
almost a. much from his love of conflict
as from his far-seeing ambition. Even
in the DAYS OF his great European cam
paigns. little more than 100 years ago.
the effects of war upon the people of
the nations engaged was hardly consid-
cred. Their wishes Were not considered
at all when the question of whether
new campaign should be begun was be-
ing determined
Today, in the age OF enlightened civil
ization and Christian fellowship among
men, the most progressive Dations of
Europe are at war. The struggle be-
gan before the people of these nations
had time to think what it was all
about Though no European ruler has
the power in himself today to wage Of
fensive warfare. the suddenness with
which the present war broke. despite
the strong protest from anti-war parties
in all the eontending nations, is the
best evidence that the people OF Europe
have no real voice today in determining
whether they shall be plunged into war.
Rulers and advisers directly under their
influence determine when and ON what
preteNt hundreds of their subjects are
TO he sacrificed TO the war god.
But never before have the rulers and
political leaders OF nations at war
sought so earnestly to convince their
subjects and the people of the entire
civilized world that the conflict is a
just one. Men of national reputation
and powerful influence in England.
France and Russia are offering for pub
lication all over the world defenses of
the position of the nations comprising
the triple entente. Germans and Austri-
ans OF equal note, including the kaiser
himself. are seeking earnestly to con-
vince the world that neither Austria
nor Germany can he blamed for the be-
ginning of the conflict.
No effort has been spared on the part
OF the allies to influence the people of
the world in their behalf. The dual al
liance having smaller facilities for pro-
mitigating their defense, by reason of
lack of direct communication by cable
with the outside world. is nevertheless
conducting tireless campaign to con-
vince the world that the war was forced
ON Austria and Germany.
This eagerness on the part of the men
in charge of the war policy OF the ma
tions of Europe to Justify their war be-
fore the world shows trend OF the
times that shrould be encouraging to the
twentieth century friends of world
peace. 1t forecasts the time when all
the people, whose appreciation OF the
present great war is being so earnestly
and vainly solicited, will determine
whether or not there shall be war.
Alexander. Julius Caesar. Genghis
Kahn, Peter the Great, or even Napo-
leon. did they live today, could not
plunge their subjects INTO war to graf
ifv their personal ambitions or their