Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-18

(Hubert Cillins. President of the
New York German-American Cham
Der Of Commerce, in the New York
SUM-
In America the people are making
the mistake of assuming that Ger
many has an autocratic rule. That is
not so. Germany is Is democratic as
England or the United States. We
lie opinion; a free press. political par
ties, government by party and by par
Lament. When Americans condemn
the kaiser they really condemn the
German people. The kaiser cannot
make war all by himself. He has to
have the support Of the bundesrath.
Parliament must vote the money.
1T is the German people who are
Waging this war;; public opinion in
that country is unanimous; there are
no criticisms; there is n grumbling;
the nation feels hat it's existence is
at stake. How idle, then. for Ameri-
cans to hold the kaiser alone respon-
sible. 1t is the fashion in this coun-
try to single out one mar and put the
blame or him. But in this case, as
In many cases.. 1t Is a mistake.
Consider for a moment the condi-
ton before the war. For forty-four
years Germany had been at peace.
Nearly every other country in the
world has been at war in that time,
even the United States. Germany has
developed such a vast commercial in
terest all over the world it could not
afford to seek a var. In war Ger
many has everything to lose. nothing
to gain. Why should our people seek
war under such circumstances?
Germany wanted nothing from
France, nothing whatever. She wanted
nothing from England, except to be
let alone. She wanted nothing from
Russia. All Germany asked Of the
world was to be left peaceful and free
to develop her commerce. in which
the prosperity of the people was
wrapped up.
IF you seek a motive for the war
o will have to look to other coun-
SAGE and Lorraine. England has long
been jealous of Germany's maritime
power and oversee trade: England
has In the past crushed all maritime
rivals; has used her naval power to
stamp out competition. and O his.
tory Is repeating itself.
Russia has feared always the Aus
TRAN alliance, thinks Germany backs
up Austria in barring her progress to
Constanttnople. Russia has for years
Intrigued to rouse the Balkan states
and seized the pretext of Austria's de-
mand upon Servia for mobilization.
That was the real declaration Of war.
Russian troops were massing on
the eastern frontier. On the west Rus
sia's allies We're active. Germany was
hemmeds In on both sides. The enemies
Of Germany had created a situation in
which peace or var must be quickly
decided upon, for If Germany were to
daily n delay, her a~dversaries. al
ready preparing, would gain enormous
advantage. But before mobilizing the
kaiser personally begged the czar to
desist from mobilization. The car
refused. To France and England Ger
many made all sorts Of offers: thew
We're treated with GOODNESS.
Thus the die was cast: thus Ger
many was forced into war. And war
peing inevitable surely 1t Is not for
e~nerketic, quick-movinR Americans to
condemn the kaiser for seeinR to A
that as he had to strike he struck fast
and hard. n.
1T Gems strange to us that Amer
leans do. not zee that the only power
able to checkmate Russia is Germany.
n that therefore,, Germany IN fight.
Ing the battle Of civilization and Of
progress against reaction.
~ AiermAn lis crushed in this war
Russia becomes the suprcme worl
power, controlling half gof Europe ana
half Ct Asia. England and France
are. lighting now toSbuilds up the Cos
sack hegefnony: II they succeed It viii
not be many a before they are
looking eyerywhere for aid -insstriking
It down again.
Make the car the arbitrator OF the
AFFAIRS OF Europe. as the democratic
progressive peoples Of EnKlAnd ana
France : now trying TO do and ii
can be broken and the lost Rround
can be recovered. There win Be only
one Ereat continental army, and that
VIII be the army OF Russia. strike
down German military power and Ger
r1an prestige. and nothing but athe
Gossack remains In Europe: Francs
md sEnsland VIII not b strons