The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-11-27
Germany Did Mot Want War

main things that united the nation
from the emperor to the most critical
and recalcitrant social democrat in
the war because they so view it. TIC
understand the point of view of all
classes in Germany one must go back
and read the present in the light of
history. No class in Germany want.
ed war. For forty-four years Ger
many has had, at last, breathing
spell, and her commerce, her indus
try, her economic life and social or
ganization became for those who
know it the wonder of the world
But the recovery of German provinces
taken once by France under Louis
XIV, in the midst of profound peace,
and recovered by Germany in 1870,
left France, or part of France, seek
ing revenge; and Germany, with
France on one side and Russia on the
other, has been prepared for armed
defense all these years. A corrupt
and dishonest oligarchy rules Rus
STA. The nation is probably as peace
full as any on earth, but that mad oil
garchy has never got beyond the
stage of military aggression in the old
Asiatic spirit. Japan successfully re-
sisted her on her march to the coast
Of China, and she turned to the Bal
kan states with her eyes again on the
stantinople. Here it was life and
death for Austria to maintain her po-
sition, and the failure of the Balkan
war to bring the Russian oligarchy
nearer its goal filed the oligarchy
with a deep inveterate hate of the
dual monarchy; for. rightly or wrong
ly. she attributed that failure to Aus
trials activity. Loudly her press pro-
claimed that when her fleet was re-
built and her army brought up to
eight millions she would enforce a
policy in accord with her dignity.
Without question. her boast and plans
made both Austria and Germany APP
prehensive. More especially when
Russia's oligarchy linked itself with
France, and reawoke the longing for
revenge. To accuse Germany of mil
itarism for keeping her powder dry
under such circumstances is down
right cant. Germany has 100000,
against 10000, Gee on one side and
17O,OO0.OOO on the other. Will Rus
sian militarism stop if Germany is
beaten? Will English navalism be
abandoned on the successful close of
the war?
For we must review also another
chapter of this story. Germany built
up an enormous export and import
trade, and built a commercial feet to
carry her commerce. She had no
navy, and suddenly awoke to find Eng
land watching her growing trade and
power with deep fear and resentment,
formulated one day in a flying squad
ron to wreck the German trade. From
that on, Germany felt forced to add
most unwillingly the burden of suf-
ficient fleet to protect her commerce
and mercantile marine. From that
time on, England has followed the
growing sea power of Germany with
increasing fear and dislike.
British Jealousy of Germany
Great Britain has made no secret of
her growing jealousy. Her press, her
poets and even her pulpits voiced the
swelling anger. am almost yearly
in London, and frequent London
club. / have numerous friends and
many relatives in England, and have
followed the English press on both its
Tory and Liberal wings, and with in
creasing disQuietude. For l have been
again and again shocked and panied
at the wanton suspicion and unfriend
illness toward Germany on the part Of
even thinking men. A year and 8
half ago a canon of the Church Of
England, and a pronounced liberal in
politics and religion, said in my pres
ence: "We ought to have made wal
on Germany when she began to bulG
ships, and not have waited until she
was so strong" In books and reviews
the changes have rung on Germany's
alleged menace to England. Then
during the reign of Edward VII, began
the systematic and almost successful
attempt to isolate Germany. In view
OF this danger, Germany prepared her
self as best she could, and sought per
sistently and toilfully to reach 9
friendly understanding with France
and England, as well as Russia, and
she thought she was at last succeed
ing, and was sincerely joyful over hel
seeming success Twice Germany