Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-09-10
Lessons Of War

France might long ago have erected
an impregnable d efen e against
foreign invasion and secured revenge
for the humiliation of 1870, without en-.
listing a single soldier or firing sin
gle shot. Germany had the same OPP
portunity to destroy all desire on the
part of France for revenge. Had the
French republic actually established
liberty, equality and fraternity, it
would have made the value of its ex.
istence so clear that the German peo-
ple-in spite of all lingo appeals to
false patriotism-would not have toler.
ated the suggestion Of war. The re-
public did not establish true liberty
THE full freedom of each bounded
by the equal freedom of every Other"
1t did not establish true equality
''The equal right of each to the use
and enjoyment of all natural oppOr-
tunities, to all the essentials Of happy,
healthful human life"
1t consequently did nothing to en-
courage true fraternity That SYM
pathy which links together those who
struggle in a noble cause, that would
live and let live; that would help as
well as be helped; that In seeking
the good of all, finds the good Of each. :"
Under true liberty, equality and fra
ternity there would have been In
France no involuntary poverty, there
would have been employment for ali
who wanted it, and all would have re-
ceived the full product of their labor
France would have been a haven Of
refuge for the oppressed and poverty
stricken Of Germany and Of other ma
lions. To the despoiled peasants OF
Europe it would have offered opportun-
tiles Of kind that as yet exist no
where. it would have made clear to
, the most staunch German nationalist
the hoIlowness of military glory and
the iniquity of Hohenzollern domino
ton. An attack on France would have
clearly been under such circumstances
! a greater injury to the German people
than the capture Of Berlin by q hostile
force. Imperialism and monarchy
would have been discredited and abol-
ished, and France would have had its
revenge on the lHOhenz0llerns.
But in france, as elsewhere, the In
fuence Of the privileged classes has
prevented such a Defense The people
have let themselves be deluded Into de.
pending on an army and navy. They
have listened too much TO chauvenistic
demagogues and too little to democrat
lie reformers. They thought more Of
lregaining Alsace and Lorraine than Of
4 establishing just conditions over the
territory controlled by the republic
They put their trust in militarism 10
preference to economic justice. Now
lmilitarism has failed them. In add
ton, to all the losses, suffering and
misery which even its success Wouid
mot ahve averted, it has not saved the
country from invasion by. q forela1
army. 1t has certainly exposed the
Ination to danger of q repetition OF 10
experience of forty-four years ago.
The German people. equally misled
lby their privileged classes neglected
a similar opportunity. They too have
h depended on the mailed fist and have
1 Ignored the claims Of Justice. Had
they been more wise than the French
) they would have estab Wished In Ger
many conditions that would have madi
Iof Ii such q help to humanity g
France might have been Now its e1
aItation Of militarism over justices M.
led to war which, while e may haF!
results to &ickl6 the vanity 6f Stail6Nl
minded ones, win surely bring gr1e
and bereavement into thousands o
German homes. iQctee q the xe|4nf'