Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-04
Europe at War.

1t must be a sublime and untBinking
optimism which is not shaken by the
astounding spectacle which Europe
presents today Austria and Servia are
on the verge of conflict and half the
continent is smoldering with war hres-
Russia, turning the vast bulk OF her
power with deceptive slowness, seems
about to lay her huge bears paw upon
the dual monarchy. This threat mas
set Germany afame Italy and france
resound with the drumpeats OF prepa-
ration; and Great Britain, distracted by
political struggles at nome. is racing
with the gravest apprehension the pos
sibility of being drawn into the titanic
struggle.
This is the scene which confronts the
race after nineteen centuries OF the SoS-
pei of peace-the great christian ma
lions OF the elder world, the exemplars
Of civilization and advanced human
tating war. National rivalr!es are to
be settled by slaughter; half CONT
nent is TO be drenched in blood to de-
eide where justice lies as between
| clasning racial ambitions.
| 1t is idle to charge this condition,
well nigh incredible in its folly and fe-
| roctty, to the intrigue of despotic rul-
| ers and cold blooded statesmen for po-
| uticsl advantage, The strangest and
| most significant phenomenon in the
| whole outburst is the enthusiasm OF
! the peoples for war.
| The streets of the capitals are filed
| with shouting tnrongs. The only hero
| is the soldier. The nation which yester-
| day was a friend, or no worse than a
rival, today is fur!ously denounced as
'the enemy" for whose blood it is viz
tuous to thirst. Millions of armed
troops are being modified for destruc-
| ton. amid cheers of war mad citizens.
| We have heard much of the peace
| dream of socialism, brotherhood that
! should know no borders and should
I opliterate rnilitarism-but one blast OF
the haagard trumpets' skaters II.
! The abstract idea of united humanity
| is submerged in the rush of passions as
! crude as those of the primitive savage.
! Swift as has seemed the develop
/ ment of this situation OF dread, the re-
! suits Of which one can hardly dare TO
contemplate, its coming has been rec
ognized as inevitable for generation.
Those threadbare phrases, the ball
ance of power" and the concert Of
Europe" had their source in conditions
which now lIlISdiell 10 tue SOi4 ~ =
nenL
What does it all mean? What resist
less force is II that turns whole peoples
into war crazed mobs in an age when
peaceful civilization is, in theory, the
animating spirit of the worldo
Even a casual traveller in Europe Is
startled by the universal acceptance OF
the idea that such a general war is in
evitable. Territorial ambitions, inter-
national intrigue. vast military prepa-
rations-these are the unending sub
jects Of discussion and speculation
The very walters at the continental no.
tells Will surprise the tourist by theit
familiarity with these tremendous
: questions. Everywhere, among all
classes, the coming of the gigantic con-
fiict is regarded as certainty.
For this fatalistic acceptance of q
monstrous reversion to savagery there
! are two underlying causes. First is the
economic pressure which increasing
populations and lack of natural re-
sources have exerted for generations
upon the nations Of central Europe to
be overcome, they believe, only thru
expansion Second is a deep rooted
racial antagonism between Teuton anc
Slay-Philadelphia North American.