The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-10-23
ISN'T THE WORST OF EVILS


Is surrrised, AM not a few frighten-
ed, at Germany's preparedness for
war Al knew Germany was ready
for an immense struggle. hut none,
net even our army officers, compre-
hende1 the full power of the ire
men1ouS war machine that militant
power has built up.
Added TO surprise and fright is a.
seyeTe shock and considerable re-
sentiment at the manner in which
Belgium has been invaded and over
run. The moral sense of the United
States, a few months ago, caused its
predominant political party to repa-
daate part of its platform because
/ 1T sought to violate a treaty-an
a greement in which were involved
only monetary considerations. How
then can. the moral sense of America
excuse the breach of faith that has
cost tens of thousands of Lives and
destroyed thousands of homes?
1t is very evident TO the people of
| America that If Germany wins next
year, that the fate of Belgium will
he the fate of our country just as
soon as Germany can go from one
feats the allies, only America will
stand between her and world domi-
nation. And America, teeming with
wealth and comparatively defense
less, would he not only easy prey but
desirable prey. If Germany WINS in
Europe, there will be nothing to
take from impoverished Europe; but
! in America she can recoup her loss
es at once. What the povery strick-
en- cavaliers of Spain did to Mexico
and Peru, Germany would do ITO US.
it is MO use ito talk about the
right and wrong of such a thing.
tAlong with her tremendous WAR ma
chime, Germany has built up the
SORT of conscience that would make
1T seem just and right in the eyes of
her people ito invade America and
treat our people as they have treated
the Belgians and French, and will
i'm overrunning Britain.
America is a much more powerful
country than Germany, and with a
moderate amount OF preparedness
cou9d easily repel amy attack But in
comparison with Germany, we are
not prepared at all.
We have unconsciously Judged
others by ourselves. have believed
the rest of the world was working
for peace and progress, and that In
ternational agreements we're desir-I
able and protective. If we do not
realize now that no agreement is of
any account unless it has force be-
hind it, and that right, unsupported
is unava1laIbIe against might, we are
fools.
The following from the Columbia
State is very appropriate at this
time:
An Unwarlilxe People?
Those of the States readers un-
familiar with Georgia Scenes
should buy the book and read it and
they would find among the funniest
sketches 1T contains that of THE drill
of the militia company. NeTerthe-
0ess 1.-THE ''militarism'' of the period
before 1860 I'm the South was very
real absurd it seems in SOME re-
spects. The main point was that the
people in those days were imbued
with the soldier spirit-even the
title of colonel" or captain" car
ried with it ain obligation to fight in
case of war.
Perhaps the average Southerner
scarcely thinks how we have chang
ed snce that day How much do we
care for our militia SYSTEM now ?
Gould we muster armies i'm South
Carolina now of the quality of the
tConfederate soldiers? Frankly, we
hardly think so. I'm the old days,
every Southern boy could shoot and
ride Nowadays great numbers of
them can neither shoot nor ride. The
forests have been cut down. game has
disappeared and shooting with a
rifle is almost a lost art A far larg-
er proportion o fthe people dwell in
the cities and towns in these times
and the automobile has made the
town boy unfamiliar with the sad
die horse
The terrific war In Europe should
bring the people of the United States
TO their senses. 1T lis not to adyo-
cate militarism to say that we should
nave a standing army of two or
three times $4,000 men-which is a
mere shadow of an army. Nor is it
to urge militarism when we say that
this republic of orr sh Guild a.arrar,aa