The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-10-01
Causes of the War and Benefits to
People Involved in the Struggle

In response to request fiom the
New York Sun, DR.. Lyman Abbott,
editor Of Outlook and who has long
been regarded as high authority on
world questions involving the progress
Of the human race, gives the following
analysis of the forces that have caus-
ed the great struggle in Europe and
some of its probable rsults:
In answer to your request for
statement of the causes and meaning
Of the European war write with me-
cessary brevity both because Of the
limits on my time and the limits on
your crowded columns.
| What is the cause Of the explosion
! of a powder magazine? The gases
stored in the powder. The lighted
match Is the occasion, not the cause Of
the explosion. The cause Of the Eur
opean war is the spirit Of envy. jeal-
ousy, sclfishness and suspicion In the
so-called Christian nations. The as
sassination by Servian of the Crown
Prince Of Austria was only the lighted
match which set the European COM
bustibles in flame.
In the United States we recognize
the truth that the interests of each
state are Identical with the interests Of
the union and that no state can per-
manently prosper by reason Of the
misfortune Of it's neighbor. In the
German empire since Its unification
each principality similarly recognizes
that the interests of the German en-
pire and the interests of the severt.l
principalities are essentially identical
But there is no such recognition OF
the common interests binding the war
ring nations of Europe together.
The Envy Of Nations.
Each nation looks with envy on the
prosperity Of its neighbor and acts up
on the assumption that its neighbor is
rival, and that its own commerce
and wealth can be built up only at the
expense Of Its rival. New York Is
quite willing that the harbor Of Bos-
ton should be improved. Bremen is
quite willing that the harbor Of Ham,
burg should be improved. The west
coast Of England does not object to
harbor facilities on the east coast Of
England. But Germany envies Eng
lands harbor facilities, and England
and Germany are both resolved to
prevent II possible Russia from getting
harbor facilities on the Mediterranean
sea. Not every individual German
Austrian. Frenchman and Englishman
holds this opinion, but the policies Of
these nations are governed by this
spirit Of international rivalry.
Law Of Physical Force.
A striking illustration Of this spirit
perhaps the most striking Illustration
in modern international life, is fur.
nished by the military party in Prus-
sia. General Bernhard in a volume
entitled Germany and the Next War"
has given what may be regarded as a
semi official Interpretation of German
militarism. He holds that life is a
struggle for existence with a survival
of the fittest. and the strongest is the
fittest; that a military organization
constitutes the true strength Of ma
ton; that there Is no higher power In
human life, certainly none in interna-
tional life, than the power of physical
force; that only the strong nation has
a right to exist, and he objects to in
ternational arbitration because 1t rec
ognizes the right to life Of small ma
ton. In this volume he calls on Ger.
many to establish a world sovereign
ty" by force Of arms, and he indicates
what should be the two-fold purpose
Of Germany in the next war, namely
to crush France and to establish such
world sovereignty Of Germany
Treaty a "serap Of Paper"
1t was this spirit which led Germany
into the present war; this spirit which
denied that Belgium had any rights
which Germany was bound to respect
this spirit which inspired the military
party in Germany to regard its treaty
with France and England guarantee
ing the neutrality Of Belgium as only
a scrap Of paper" and this spirit
which could not and apparently still
does not comprehend why Belgium
should be bound in honor to defend
her neutrality, or why England, with
no very direct and immediate interests
- protect. should feel herself bound to
come to the defense Of her weaker
neighbor.
The delay Of the German army.
which Is likely to prove disastrous to
her designs, has demonstrated in her
own chosen field that there is a force
IN national honor and national con.
science which can put up a very efl.
Gent resistance IN Kr,rp u,,rc