The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1914-08-26
MinneaDOlis Tribune: Will the end

Minneapolis Tribune: Will the end
of the war be disarmament?
Many students answer Yes" TO
their eyes a burdensOme war tax VIII
not only preclude war footing in time
Of peace, but sweep monarchies and
autocracies from their thrones and
make Europe generally republican"
We will all hope these students may
live to see their prophecies fulfilled.
But the teaching Of history is against
it.
The war must end either in sub
stantial victory for one group Of ma
tions or a substantial tie.
Assume that the result is indecisive.
There is much reason to believe that
it must be so.
The balance Of power in Europe will
be unchanged. There will be the same
outreaching toward the Mediterranean
by Russia. the same mutual mistrust
between the nations of the alliance and
the nations of the entente, the same
Slavic throwing of fire brands, the same
need in England for unchallenged
mastery of the seas
Whatever the provisions Of the new
treaty, these forces would still be
actively at work among the people. II
forbidden to maintain anything be-
yond a. fixed naval strength, England
would look to her colonies to maintain
provincial navies. Germany, If re
stricted to a fixed army strength, must
be expected to CirCualVent the later re-
striction as Prussia eVaded similar
restriction imposed upon her by Ma
poleon.
The saroe passions, in the same peo-
ples, must almost inevitably produce
the same conflicts.
Assume that the war ends in victory
for either side.
France offers an object lesson In
what may be expected from the van
ouished. She has prayed for this day
through forty three years, prepared
for it. made countless personal sacrl-
fees to be ready for it. Would she be
am less loyal in 1914 than in 1871?
Are German Teutons any less per-
tinacious than Latins?
OR Anglo -Saxons than Teutons?
Would any of these nations ac-
ouiesce in a predominant Russia?
Or Russia be any the less restless
to stretch her giant muscles?
Reliance upon force is not beaten
ont of men by force. The nation that
is whipped by artillery can hardly be
expected to put its trust in council.
The only nations that do not go to
war are the nations that are secure
against invasion or have le1rned the
folly of trial by battle. Are there any
such nations? Can any of us say that
the United States has confidently
learned that lesson? Switzerland has
learned it, as far as she feels 1t safe.
But has any of the eight powers learn
ed It, even the United States?
America has at least learned to dis
criminate between the need for inter
nrnfeotinn anil m ilif9T-
ism The war party is strong here.
There are still men able to win the
crowd with talk of Licking" any ma
ton on the face Of the earth. Never
theIess the American people as
whole may be assumed to be strongly
against any great increase in their
army and willing to undertake only
moderate program Of navy enlarge
ment. Our feeling is this:
That we must be strong enough to
command respect, even from warlike
nations. But that we need not engage
in suicidal military rivalry with those
nations.
Are there any other powers likely to
take the same position?
None of the other powers have the
American advantage of security
against invasion. That is the first and
great consideration. We can feel Sc
cure because Providence has made us
secufe. England can not. Nor France.
Nor Germany. Nor Austria Hungary.
Nor Russia. Nor Italy. Nor Japan.
And the need to be strong against in
yasion is so ever-present in the minds
of these peoples as to warrant this as
sumption:
That If they agreed today to COM
pIete disarming they would begin or
ganizing into voluntary forces tomor-
row.
The powers, excepting the United
States, must be expected to maintain
armies strong enough to repel inVa-
sion, whatever their form oc govern
ment.
But there is a considerable gulf be-
tween the 1918 armed strength Of
those powers and strength organized
solely to repel invasion. To that de-
gree it Is reasonable to expect a con-
traction of military programs in the
near future. ,....
II is also reasonable to expect a
contraction Of naval programs in di-
rect proportion as the settlement Of
the present war cripples exchequers
or lightens the burden England must