TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-12-14

lanche IL is We who have our hand on
him. II is we who in the last analysis
must say whether Europe Is to be
deluged with blood. Do you doubt iti
Turn to your paper this friday morn
ing. There you will see a message
from st. Petersburg signed by Reuter-.
1t begins,
''The situation shows, SO far, no
change in the direction Of peace. The
sailing Of the British fleet from Port
land has created an immense impress
sion and. coupled with Japan's assur-
ances, has more than confirmed Russia's
determination to stand to her guns"
In that flash we see the situation.
We see the Gar with has hand on the
avalanche looking toward England for
the one assurance that he needs. Let
England say, eNo. you touch 1t at your
own risk and your own peril,r and his
hand will drop. Let England falter,
temporize, equivocate, and he will plunge
us into rain with the rest.
THE CAMPAIGN OF THE wARMoN.
GERS.
We are told that We must be quiet,
that we may encourage Germany by
making her believe that she has not to
reckon with us. But the move Is not
with Germany. The move is with Rus
sia. II is she whom we encourage or
discourage by every word that is said
and every action that is done. II Is
she who has the issues Of war and
peace in her hands. IL is shn whom
the sailing Of our fleet from Portland
has confirmed in her determination
TO stand to her guns ouiet7 But
who Is keeping the Times and the
Daily Mail and the rest OF these papers
which by years OF anti-GermsB prop
uganda have been paving the way to
this stnpendous catastrophe he-who 10
keeping them qnietl Nay, who is in
spring themf Who is authorizing
them TO tell Russia that she may start
the avalanche with the assurance that
We shall be in the abyss with herT
They talk OF our obligations to our
friends" We have no obligations OK
cept the obligation 70 preserve this
country from any share in the crime
that threatens 10 overwhelm Europe.
Again and again we have had the as
surance Of the Prime Minister and Sir
Edward Grey that we are free agents,
that our hands are not tied. II that
is so. why are these mischieyous dec
larations about our completely allowed
TO pass! Every one Of them is a new
incitement TO Russia, fresh match
applied to the powder magazine Of Eu-
rope. They are reproduced in Russia
to feed the flame OF popular passion and
TO nerve the Gar to the fatal act.
THE AssAssINATIoSs.
II we are free--and we know that We
are free--what ground 10 there for in
yolving ourselves in this unspeakabie
calamity On the immediate cause OF
the quarrel we can have no sympathy
with Servia. The assassination OF the
Crown Prince and his wife was a bru-
tai and cold d.blooded crime, the fruit OF
conspiracy laid with infinite care and
and wholly inspired by
servia. II was a plot 80 complete, 80
official, as Il were, that there was no
possibility OF the victims escaping.
They were literally enveloped by death
from the moment they entered sera.
jevo. The crime was only the culrni-
nation Of q long train OF events. all
OF which aimed at raising rebellion
among the Slays OF Austria Hungary,
and its immediate purpose was TO de-
stroy the one life which seemed neces-
sary to save Austria from disruption
on the old emperor's death. We need
not attempt to justify tie terms OF the
Iultimatum; but no one denies the prov
ocation, no one suggests that II the
two countries could be isolated Austria
would not be justified in exacting severe
terms from the criminal.
Why Is European war threatened
10 save servia from punishment BE.
cause seryia Is the instrument OF Rus
sia. 1t was in Belgrade where that most
mischieyous Of Russian diplomatists, M
Hartwig. carried on his machinations
throughout the Balkan war. 1t Il
through Belgrade that Russia hopes to
establish her domination Of the Balkan
peninsula. Have We any interest in
helping herl VIII it please the miners
OF Northumberland and the cotton
operatives Of Lancashire TO know that
Europe was waded through blood In
order to give Russia the hegemony oi
the slavoworldf 10 her rule so bene
ficent that we can 60 to war TO help
her to extend itl ] am old enough te
remember--it does not seem very long
ago---when the music halls Of London
were ringing with
1--WE don't want TO fight
But by lingo II we do
Wafva oof the sbips.