The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-10-05
thousands per day.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS nj IS
We are prone TO look upon this,
as sayagry. We say that the present,
day civilization OF Europe is revert
ing to the practices OF the dark ages.
But we must not forget that we have
engaged in this conflict on either.
side Of the highest types Of civiliza-
ton the world has ever known. We
boast Of our own high order Of civilf-
cation. and we are very we'll advanc-
ed, but to Germany must be given
The credit OF having the lowest per-
centage OF illiteracy of any nation on
tile Globe. Based upon the ability to
write their own language the per-
centage OF illiteracy in Germany Is
only .O2 20 orin.otherswords only one
man of every 5000 is unable to.write
his own language. In England, we.
find the next lowest percentage OF
illiteracy, 1t being only 10 or ono
man out of every hundred. In
France, it is 149S. In Belgium, 1870.
in Austria 22%o while in. Russia it Is
1919. In Scryia against whom the
war was started, the percentage OF IL
lttcracy is 1871 and this perhaps
may be extended as an excuse or pal-.
liatton from the crime committed by
the young Scrvian student who as
Fascinated the Archduke,
On the whole the percentage OF IL
literacy in Europe is very low. In
tile United States, including foreign
crs. the coIorcd race and Indians, the
percentage is ~ but If based on the
white American population 1t would
compare very favorably with the
most enlightened countries OF Eu-
rope.
Not only is the percentage OF IL
iitcracy very low in some Of the
leading warning countrics%but 1t is
here we have civilization advanced
10 a very high decree. arts and sci=
cnccs take high standing and most
Of all these countries enjoy religious
freedom. France has religious free
dom and no church Is recognized by
the state. Germany and Austria and
Belgium onjoy religious freedom. In
England tho Protestant faith Is rec
ognized. In Russia the religion Is
the Greaco Russian or OrthadoS
faith. So the war cannot be laid TO
the absence OF religious freedom nor
to low state Of civilization.
The best argument for peace In my
opinion is the terrible cost OF the
war. / do not mean by this the ac-
tual cost in dollars, but that alone
would be sufficient reason for urs-
ing peace. but the cost in human SUI
rcring, the cost.in lives, the cost to
civilization, the cost to the future
and tic cost in heart throbs and an
guish TO the mothers, the wives anu
children OF the victims of the awful
conflict, are the principle items OF
cost. ,u
The statistician of the University
Of Paris has estimated that tho cost
OF tile war each day is $54,O0O.O 900.
S12,5O0,O0O Of this goes to feed the
soldiers. he estimates, and $1,0VO'-
900 to feed the horses. the remain
der being made up in the cost OF am
munition and other expenses. maxi
ing the granu lOLdl VI %oi'V"V''""'
These figures while staggering i'll
their cnormity are not the greatest
Of the cost. Add to them the waste
Of human life, the devastation OF the
country, the destruction Of ancient
landmarks, and costly cathcdrals, the
suuandering on JOY ride for power
Of tile accumulated savings OF a hum
Grcds years OF industry, the gigantic
mortgage on the future in the form
OF war debt to be paid by the van
quishcd nations who arc least able
TO stand the burden, then the at
count becomes more dangerous to
contemplate. There is another great
cost and that is in the depletion OF
tic race. The able bodied men will
be sent to war willie the wcaklings
will be left behind to become the
fathers of tile future generations and
in this manner the process of better
mcnt Of the race Will be set BACK
many generations.
A soldier lays down his life free
~ upon the battle field, he is spnrrcd
on aud on by the fiendish ardor OF
tho conflict and forgets his danger.