The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-09-04
THOU SHALT NOT KILL

That there will be betterment in
the conditions of the hnman race af-
ter the tragedies of the European war
have been healed, is no doubt true.
That conditions could have been better
ed without the tragedies of war, is
certain. 1t is simply another fright
full example of the brutalities Of prog
ress.
In seeking the causes of the war,
one need go no farther than the years
that have been spen: by the notions
in preparing for it. 1t fell like n
bolt from the blue. AS calm and Sc
rene as any day for u decade were the
political skies of Europe, and the next
day millions of armed soldiers were
on the march! They were ready.
They had been ready for years to
strike any moment. Time was call
ed fifty years ago when on the crea-
ton Of the present German empire
Bismarck declared that for the next
fifty years the government must be
prepared for war. That was chal-
lengc to the nations, and the time,
energy and substance of all Europe
have since been given to preparation
The hour struck, as it was sure to
| strike. when there could be no fur
thcr preparation; when the nations
had exhausted their resources in
preparation, Aside from the fact of
the preparedness Of every nation,
there IS no one particular cause With
standing armies swelled to the capac-
ity Of the manufacturers; with the
seas dotted with battleships to the
capacity Of money and credit. no spe-
citic cause was nccded-war was inev-
liable.
II was but Il repetition of history
that trouble should begin in Belgium
Belgium has been the battle-ground
of all European wars. 1t was in Bel
GUM, five hundred years ago, that
! Tyndale, the pioneer translator. was
| burned at the stake for the crime of
having translated the Bible into the
| speech Of the common people. More
blood has been spilled, more crimes
committed against humanity, in Bel
! GUM than in any other given area
! on the globe. One thing is certain.
the war was not brought ON by Il re-
volt ON the part Of the common peo-
| pie to better their conditions. The
masses Of Europe suffer and serve
and 20 TO war ut the bidding of the
masters 1t is in one sense family
quarrel The king Of England and
the Emperor Of Germany are first
consins, and nearly all the reigning
monarchs are blood relatives. They
are Of the same stock that has fer
tilted the soil of Europe with human
blood and bone for centuries. Their
wars have ever been for more power
and increased territory. In anothe
sense it is n race war between peoples
speaking different languages. Ger
tain peoples, like the Servians. de-
sire to nationalize themselves. but
their country and people are divided
among stronger powers, text books of
foreign languages are forced on their
children and efforts are made to force
their allegiance to alien governments.
The effect of the war on our coun-
try is problematical, If European
markets are closed to our products,
If merchant ships cannot sail the seas.
there will be glut in our markets.
On the other hand, if England, France
and RUSSIA clear the seas to com
mcrcc prices Of our products will
soar, But in this event the masses
of our people will he compelled to pay
the high prices for the nccessaries Of
life. A few producers and the army
Of middlemcn viii reap the benefits.
In the long run, it is impossible
for one people to advantage because
of the misfortuncs of other people
Meanwhile, millions of lives will he
lost, billions of debts piled up for I'M
born generations to pay, the cries of
, widows will go unheard, and Poverty.
the arch enemy of mankind, will have
achieved great victory.-The Yoe-
man Shield.
! FOR TRADE OR SAJE-I cad Ppi