Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-09-11
UNHAPPY EUROPE.

The contrast in conditions existing in the Ea.
ern and Western Hemispheres respectively. we
never so great as now.
Three weeks ago under the caption, "Man's
humanity the BEACON sought to call the attenti,
Of It's readers to the horrors of the situati,
brought about by the conflict of arms going on he
Ween the nations on the other side of the Atlanti
that our people might be the better contented vii
their fortune as toilers of peace on this side of II
turbulent sea.
If we, as citizens of this, the greatest Rep1bl
of the earth-"the beir of all the ages, in the for
most files of time"-had. at that time, cause f
every true American heart to felicitate itself th,
is lot was cast on these blessed shores, how muc
more f%elicitous must it feel that such is the case 8
The present time?
Here the peaceful inhabitant, be it man, woma
Or child trudging the path Of life, !goes on his @
ner way rejoicing in the serenity that belongs t
those who live in a land iIlumed with Freedom
loIy light" where peaceful skies bend above them
"here the divinity that shapes the harvests ha
'mlled upon the tlllers of the soil, and made thei
acids TEEN with record crops of golden grain; wher
each person may, without let or hindrarce follow
the even tenor of his way, whether on pleasur
Dent or in pursuit of whatever other object III,
mind may determine.
here our days are passed in peace; and her,
when night comes on and the patient stars lool
down. their light discovers naught to make d
afraid. W
We lie down to pleasant slumbers, and our slee,
s undlsturDed by call to answer any night alarm O
war.
No long roll of drum summons us from pleasan
dreams to fall into line, prepared for battle. no
the streets of our cities anywhere LIGHTED h,
homes fired by incendiary torch in hand 0
murderous soldier or seaman ashore seeking to oil
Iage and plumber the defenseless.
The President Of the United States goes hi
way free from physical fear, taking no thought q
harm on the morrow or loss by violence O.
great office, with all its responsibility. authorit,
and power as the chosen ruler of a free people.
How different the scene on the other side Of the
Atlantic
Over there, heads wearing crowns lie uneasy
Conditions over there are serious and unhannv
The horrors OF a war and its inevitable cruel re-
suits, such as the world never before Witnessed
confronting every monarchy of Europe,
Even the sleep of Republican France is broken
by horrid dreams of loss of land and liberty.
Germany, If anything, is still more unbapnv
Tor she has greater cause for agonizing.
Let US, for a moment, consider her state.
Less than two months ago she was at tho boaa
the procession of Progress, leading it on rioht
to expand and extend the Christian civili1a.
ton of the age, of which it is hardly claimino +no
much to say she was the greatest exponent amoro
all the nations of earth.
Her genius for the wealth-and- happiness-n ,o-
duclng arts OF peace was employed at its best and
everywhere clearly recognized.
Today all that is changed.
lter factories are closed her farms practically
deserted; her industries idle.
The call to arms has changed her enniro ouo.
which peace reigned and for which forty voars -
lnbroken domestic tranquility had done 50 mnoh
into a mighty armed camp.
The tramp of troops is not confined 70 CorO,ox.
Not only there, but everywhere on the cont;
nent the sound of drum and fife; the call of tLa
the blare Of the trumpet, and tba oor1 ~
'pn1t'ng music of military bands are making the
welkln ring with the martial airs of the nations
The pomp and pageant of war is eyerywhora
seen.
Its hell is manifest from the sunny fields and
'mecIads cottages of La Belle France to the frozoo
'eglons OF tar-away Russia, where the forooio,a
wolf prowls. the l%ce-king makes his homo anS
8oreas is never chained. "'u
And so, too, in the British Isles. the natr;ot;o
'rdor for which tAe Irish are distinguished baC