The Republican journal., 1914-09-17
OUR PART IN TINE svRUcci.R J.
Coienel Harvey Points out Post,b,iltles that
Nav he Tyerne~ A.... -


May be Tremendous to M.
Finally, what Of the New World,
IRON the immediate military struggle
itsen America fortunately stands aioof
A few thousand Canadians NAV shaG
their blood in Flanders or on the lowe,
Rhine; few hundred conscriDts from
the French Antilles may die in Alsace or
beneath the walls of Paris; a small frac.
ton OF our foreign population will return
to pay its patriotic debt to the mother
continent. Aside from these thing,
America can today suffer no appreciable
dram either in men or in war material
For short time, indeed, the PRESSING
needs OF war-stricken Europe will now.
erfully stimulate both American industry
and American agriculture, although the
general liquidation of losses following a
stupendous consumption of the world'e
capital, together with the decreased pur.
chasing power of a semi-bankrupt Eu.
ropean continent, will soon more thar
offset this abnormal stimulus and will
presently engender a prolonged period OF
economic reaction. However, America
will lose infinitely less than any other
part OF the civilized world and will be
relatively stronger than she is TODAY.
Indeed, by quick grasp of present op-
portunities, aided by the inevitable re.
Mobilization of our long-lost merchant
marine, we should be able to gain a Sc.
cure foothold in many foreign markets
hitherto virtual European monopolies.
especially in Latin America.
Nevertheless, the tremendous POSSIBLE
tiles which may arise from the final out
come of the present European conf1ag-
ration may engender problems vital to
our whole future. Suppose a German
Empire, rising triumphant over ruined
England, lord of the sea, hungry for
markets and colonies to recoup its losses.
Suppose an aroused and aggressive Asia,
with the United States the sole unscath-
ed member of the white world. Suppose,
even, firmly welded British Empire,
united by successful war, militarized by
the intoxication of victory, and allied to
hungry and bellicose Japan. We assert
our hegemony of this hemisphere, we
are in possession of earth's greatest
prize, the Panama Canal. And-the
Anglo-German death grapple proves that
blood is not always thicker than water.
All these eventualities, it is true, still
lie in the unknown future, but one among
them may lie in the very immediate fu-
ture. At any rate, one lesson seems to
lie fair for our reading: on this day of
Armageddon America should neglect
nothing for the sure maintenance of her
position in a quaking world.
''The United States" says the Presi-
dent in his moving appeal to his country
men, "must be neutral in fact as we'll as
in name during these days that are to
try mems souls. We must be impartial
in thought as well as in action, must put
a curb upon our sentiments as well as
upon every transaction that might be
construed as preference of one party
to the struggle before another. My
thought is of America. | am speaking,
| feel sure, the earnest wish and purpose
of every thoughtful American that this
great country of ours, which is, of course,
the first in our thoughts and in our
hearts, should show herself in this time
of peculiar trial nation fit beyond
others to exhibit the fine poise of undis-
turbed judgment, the dignity of self
control, the efficiency of dispassionate
action, nation that neither sits in judg-
ment upon others nor is disturbed in her
own counsels, I'd which keeps herself
fit and free to do what is honest and dis
interested and truly serviceable for the
peace of the world.''
Noble words fifty spoken So let be
the thoughts and conduct of all, to the
end that, when the time shall come, as
assuredly it will come, to act for the res
toration of peace and goodwill among
distracted peoples, no bar shall cross the
path of Chief Magistrate who would
crown the Republic with glory by striv-
ing as friend among the nations of the
earth !-George Harvey in the Septem-
Der number of The North American Re-
view