Oxford Democrat., 1914-08-25
What Is War About :?
AN OPINION BY MAN WHO KNOWS
WHAT WAR IS LIKE.
HARTFORD, MAINE, Au

HARTFORD, MAINE, aug |o' Aoi7'
To the Editor Of the Democrat:
Dear Sir:-In your issue OF Aug. II,
YOU ask the question, "who knows what
the gigantic war now raging in Europe
ia all about?" We agree with you that
no one seems to know, but the world
over, men will form opinions and here at
least, may they express them without
danger to themselves. Kingly rulers
have never formed the habit of taking
their gu ubjects into their confidence or
acquainting them with their purposes
and plans. But If history be true, from
time immemorial they have relied upon
war as the one quick and certain cure
for the restlessness of an oppressed and
suffering people. When their wailings
from the pits of poverty and despair dis
turb their slumbers, when their clamor-
ings for relief become a menace, when
the mightiness of their trampings along
the highways set the thrones OF the
world atremble, then the cry of ,oar,
WAR, WAR is heard in the land.
By means we'll known to them, the
patriotic ardor of their subjects is
aroused to fever pitch. An imaginary
insult has been offered their king, an
imaginary invasion of their country is
threatened and they are called upon to
resurt the one and resist the other.
Away 20 their hats in the air and the
shouting is heard everywhere, "our
noble king has been insulted, our coun-
try is being invaded and we must fight
for home and father-land." No man
knows better than Emperor Joseph OF
Austria that for years, sleeping or wax
ing. there has been underneath him
slumberipg volcano, that like Etns or
Vesuvius, is likely at any moment to
break forth and foam over the land de-
luge of blood and fire. He knows that
successful revolutions once in full
swing, it would mean for the royal
house of Austria what the French revo-
luton meant to the nobility of France.
The marvellous growth OF Socialism IN
his country has alarmed the war-lord,
Emperor William of Germany. Some
thing must be done and quickly, to di-
vert the attention of these people from
themselves, for none know better than
these two that if the upheaval comes,
their two heads would be the first to
touch the block.
The dread issue must be settled and at
once. Either Royalty must 90 down or
the people must be crushed and their
disconnected clamorings silenced. War
and war alone will produce this result.
Unless such steps are taken not throne
in Europe will be standing in 1929.
Neither liked to begin struggle that
NAV involve the whole world.
Emperor William says Emperor Joseph
precipitated the war. Joseph says It
was Servia. ,,
Servia says she is not responsible for
the act of an insane person, statement
that seems fairly reasonable to an un-
preiudiced mind. However, the terri
BILE struggle is on and according as 1T
continues and the scope 1t takes 1t will
REQUIRE 80 to 100 years to repair the pro-
perty damage alone, while all the kings
and emperors in Christendom cannot
restore one of the millions of lives they
have destroyed deliberately to save
themselves. 1t may seem incredible,
but we have it from authority we can
not dispute "that all that man hath he
will give for his life."
For all these years the work of restor-
alton will employ the energies of those
who survive and they will contentsdly
struggle ON while the heirs of the pres
ent rulers will sit safely on the thrones
of their fathers. By secret conferences,
by the passing of silent emissaries be-
tween these rulers the plans were made,
the time, the place, the way of begin
ming the stupenduous struggle that Is to
prolong the life of monarchial govern
msnts, was all determined before 1t be-
gan. While the world can never prove
It, there is on all of history's pages no
more compact truth than this, that 1t is
pre-arranged destruction, entered into
by the rulers of the countries engaged,
to secure for themselves few more gen.
erations of kingly rule.
Oh God! will the sub-strata OF the
world, known as the common people,
never learn that we are only pawns on
the worlds chess board, to be forever
pushed to the front and sacrificed, to the
last one, If need be, to save the Kings,
the Queens, and Castles from destruc'
tion?
Sincerely
w. s. ROBINSON