Middletown transcript., 1914-09-12
TaE WORLDS GREATEST WAR

IriE WUkLy0 6AkEAIEol WAN
U7HEN the numbers engaged in this
w War of the Nine Nations are con
sidered and the vastly increased eff
cheney of modern ornaments, on land
and On sea, beneath the ocean and in
the air above, this conflict involving
twelve millions of armed men, is prov
ing the most fearful one known to the
annals of mankind-a unique horror,
unmatched in blood and fury, and trans
cendant in its far-reaching cOnsequen-
ces.
But worse. yet, it viii be bitter
fight to the knife-a war of extermina-
ton. Germany's naughty war lord has
defantly thrown down the gage Of bat
tie. to. all Europe, and tossed the
whole Fatberland into the balance,
and his war machine, though gi-
gantic in size, efficiency and power, is
facing a still greater allied force and
the issue Of the bloody business will
probably be the dismemberment of
France, Servia and Belgium on the
one hand, or of Germany and Austro-
Hungary on the other, not to speak Of
the vast colonial interests of England,
France and Germany that also hang on
the result.
It will probably end the HOhenzollern
imperial dynasty certainly, we hope,
cost William his throne; indeed it may
cost him his life if he be as bold in
deed as he is in speech, and after the
ancient practice personally lead his Ger
manic hosts against the enemy.
The loss of the Kaiser's rule and race
Z is a small matter; but that great work,
the unifcation of Germany which the
craftsmanship of Bismarck and the
military genius of Won Molke achieved,
may also be lost through the overween-
ing ambition of the Kaiser who "a years
ago when but recently come to the
throne, in snubbing old Bismarck, dis
played the same headstrong folly that
is to-day running the Fatherland.
Russia is secure against territorial
loss, thanks to the impasse of its huge
bulk, and its hyperborean ramparts of
ice and snow. Were the German arms
never SO victorious, they would hesi-
tate to repeat the disasters of Napo-
Icons Moscow retreat by seeking to
plant the imperial eagles in St. Peters
burg.
But whether Russia lose or win, the
event means another and greater blow
to the autocracy of the Romanoff' S,
and because of this very conflict the
100000 half-starved moyits, myri-
ads of whom the Gear will complacent-
Aly feed into his remorseless war hopper,
some day not far away also brush
tyTants aside and demand and OBJ.
something far more like real self
rment than their present iugglet
nbug Of douma.
eTrue, the slaughter, the suffering
disease and death on the battlefield
and the sorrow, hunger and woe in tn,
homes,wi be unthinkable;but out of al
this seething crucible ofWar's hell ther,
will in the end be born. a sweeter peace
larger liberty, with new and create
blessings for the common people, tn
sons and daughters of those who per
ished there.
This great war sounds the dealt
kneIl of kingIy privilege and autOcrac,
throughout all Europe. Never agail
viii brace of neurOtic autocrats lik
Kaiser Wilhelm and Czar Nicholas hav
the power by their mere ipse dirt to Sc
ten millions Of their subjects cutting
each others throats!
With the wholesale destruction o
warlike armaments, men and ships tha
will result from this war, will come tn
Pnd Of the mad militaristie craze il
urope, and the toiling millions tina
lof half century have been sweating
like cattle to support vast standing
armies and build huge navies, vii
largely be eased Of their cruel burdens
Nor will these sweating millions $,
-6ntentedly keep in idle ease a parasi
tic horde Of lords, ladies', princes anc
whatnOt trumpery Of nobility, but vii
demand the right themselves to enjo,
the fruits of their own skill and indus
try
The event will give worldwide i'm
pulse to the democratic idea unequale,