The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-10

49,
years the. propaganda for undesmin-
ing the has->> Of our empire has been
carried on In the name Of P>1Blavi1m-
1t seems that she judged that nov the
time has come to draw the ccnoe-
quences and to bring things to . final
issue. With what result remains to be
seen
Germany Honor BDand.
{ By the terms nf our treaty Of al
lance Germany WAS bound to come to
our assistance II We were attacked by
Russia There was NO secrecy about
that treaty Its text had been MADE
public long ago and its purely de-
fensfve character brought to the knoWl-
edge Of the world No more than We
did Germany entertain hostile inten-
tons or nourfsh hoakfle feelings against
Russia There were no cnshine inter,
ests to excite the first NO historical
reminiscepces to justify the second. II
it IS otherwise In Russia. 1t II because
her present leaders find German pow
er in the way Of their conQuering a.
pirationsz against u.s. Germany, true 10
her obligations, FASTENED to our s4de
when she saw us menaced. and when
had positive informal ton that in spite
OF formal and solemn assurances to the
contrary Ruudan mobilization was pro-
ceeding
The terms OF the Franco Russian al
lance have never been made public.
Whether it was concluded merely Tor
defensive or also for Offensive pur-
poses, and whether France was Obliged
by her treaty to draw the sword in the
present case. remains there matter
OF surmize. But there il no mystery
about the feelings OF France with re-
gard to Germany and no doubt about
the greed for revenge which during the
last a years has swayed the over
whelming majority Of her people and
been the dominant factor of her foreign
policy. It was for this object that she
entered into her alliances and agree
ments and it is for this cause that she
is fighting Cow.
1t Is simple hypocrisy to talk about
German aggressiveness against France
tackled by Germany il she had chosen
to remain neutral in the lattef's war
with Russia. Asked whether she would
do SO. she replied that her her actions
would be guided by her interests. The
meaning OF this reply was clear and
left Germany no choice The formal
declaration of war became then q
convenience and has no bearing on the
moral issue Of the case
Why England.
this war? Officially and to the world
at large, she has explained her resolu-
ton by Germany's violation OF Belgian
neutrality. and in the royal message to
parliament it was solomnly de-
clared that England could not stand
breach OF international law and obliga-
lions.
No Austrian can read this declaration
otherwise than with a mournful smile.
It's futility has been exposed by the
question which Engiishmen of standing
and renown have put to their govern
ment. viz: Whether they would equal
Iy have declared war on France If that
violation of neutrality had first come
from her side In face Of this question
having remained unanswered and IN
| face of what has come to light
since about French preparations in
Belgium. there is no need to expatiate
on this subject All that there Is to be
! said about It has been said by the
German chancellor in open session p1
I the reichstae and all that may be added
! is the remark that considering Eng
lands history and what she did before
| Copenhagen in 1907 she of all nations
should be the last to put on airs OF
moral Indignation over the application
| Of the principle that In time of wal
"salus reipublicae suprema lex esto.'
| The existence OF a convention bind
ing England to France in case of wal
has-as far as know-never been ad-
mitted officially by England. As I see
now from manifestations of English
men disappearing Of their country
! participation in the war, the belief ex-
lists nevertheless that such a conven-
ton had been concluded. But whether
England's declaration Of war was the
consequence of previously entered OBJ
legations or the outcome of present free
| initiative, the main fact remains that
in the last resort it sprang from jeal-
and commercial prosperity. This feel
ing was the dominant factor in English
| foreign policy just as greed for revenge
/ was in France. 1t was the propellin9
power for the agreements which Eng
| land has made and for others which
she endeavored but did not succeed to
bring about.
| England claims the dominion over
the seas as her native right, and what
IL more she holds it. Her title Is nc
better and no worse than that Of the
i Romans when they conquered the
world or Of the Turkish sultans In the
days Of their power. Like them she
claim For three centuries the ma
lions Of the Continental Europe have
been hating, fighting and devastating
each other for the sake of strips OF
frontier land and a shadowy balance
OF power. These centuries were Eng
lands opportunity and she has made
! the most OF it. That she should NEAR
to keep what she has and hold to hel
maritime supremacy A. to the apple
of her eye, IL natural Whether 1t Il
/ for the benefit of mankind that II
i should be 30 and whether the world n
general would not be better Oft Il
/; there existed balance Of power or
sea az well az on land. does not enter
! into the present discussion What Il
more to the purpose Is that in reality