The Washington herald., 1914-10-04

| us now. but which later IL only too likely
to be administered with the addition Of
knockout drops"
Congressman Bartholdt Is fearful of the
outcome Of what Is perhaps the greatest
war ever to be recorded on the pages
OF history.
"Of course" he said. 'if all the ma
tions had previously agreed on .disarma-
ment and on a peaceful settlement Of
their disputes, as the peace advocates
have so insistently demanded, there
would now be no European war. But
were the present critics Of the Kaiser
among those who advocated such a pol
icy? Alas. they were not. AS a mat
ter of fact, England has built two bat
tleships to every one of Germany's and
has maintained this double standard as
a constant menace to the peace OF the
world.
Now. take the army. Germany has
recently increased that military arm
strictly in proportion TO the increase OF
her population, while Frances increase
was greatly in excess of that proportion,
so that relatively the French army is
much larger than that of the Germans
In view Of these facts. is it just to con-
done the militarism of England and
France and denounce that OF Germany?
For forty-three years Germany has
kept the peace, while nearly every other
country, including the United States. has
waged war, even within the last twenty
years-England with the Beers the
United States with Spain. Russia with
Japan, Italy with Turkey, etc. Though
on several occasions the German people
have clamored for war, the Emperor has
remained immovable for peace. This
was his attitude during the Balkan war.
and whatever may be said to the con-
trary. his attitude was still unchanged
when Austria sent her recent ultimatum
to Servia- Germany was enjoying un-
paralleled prosperity. Her industry and
commerce were growing, and by peaceful
effort, thrift, and enterprise, her people
were rapidly forging to the front in in
dustrial and commercial development.
The Kaiser had every reason to wish
for a continuance of these favorable
conditions. and, believing them secure,
had quietly gone on his annual cruise to
Norway. Would he have done so in the
face of an impending world conhagra-
ton?
But let US look into the causes OF this
great European upheaval. aside from
the one assigned by the peace advo-
Gates. It is conceded by all as an in
controvertible fact that the triple alliance
between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and
Italy was formed TO preserve the peace
Of Europe.
The triple alliance left three powers
on the outside, with axes to grind-Eng-
land, Jealous as well as fearful Of Ger
many's commercial growth; France ready
and anxious to seek revenge for 1870 and
the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and Russia
bent on extending her domain over Eu-
rope, in accordance with the traditional
policy Of the Romanoffs. 1t was an easy
task to bring about a combination OF
these three powers. and England, under
Edward VII. took the lead in accom-
plishing it. ra
Understanding Concerning Spoils.
There was, OF course. an understand
ing among these powers concerning the
spoils. An alliance as unnatural and as
unholy as that between two hereditary
enmies like England and France and be-
tween those enlightened powers and dark
est Russia could only be effected and
kept together by the cohesive power of
public plunder.' England would get her
satisfaction by seeing her rival Ger
many) crushed France would get Al
sace-Lorraine, and Russia would be given
a free hand in the Balkan states. The
German colonies would be divided be-
tween England and France.
mo matter how the gigantic struggle
will terminate, this war will go down in
history as the greatest predatory expedi-
tfon the world has ever witnessed, and
England and France win never be able
70 wipe from their escutcheons the stig-
ma. Of participation in It.
'swhile Germany il waging 4 war Of