The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-09-18
YOUR" UNCLE HENRY" WAITER
SON RApS HERMAN RIDER
SAYS THE WAR IN EU-
ROPE Is A kAiSER'S,
NOT A PEOPLES
WAR

OF the united OLdLoS mas ODScIFcu
the strictest neutrality between the
European combatants.
In none of it's bearing or aspects
is it our fight. Though it inflicts upon
us incalcuable hurt and hardship we
make no cutlery. Each of the nations
embarked is friendly nation. Yet
it is conceivable that we might be
involved with any one of them, Eng
land holding a geographical position
in Canada to be the most dangerous
if not most likely, Russia represent
ing an institutional system most re-
pugnant to our principles and sympa-
thies.
Why then is American sentiment
substantially unit against the Aus
tro-German alliance? 1t is not love of
England-not even tolerance of Rus
sia-sure not hostility to Germany.
1t is that, for the time being.
the cause of absolutism and arbitra-
ry power is embodied by the German
Kaiser; that the success of his arms
means not merely continental reac-
tion against democratic progress, but
extinction for some, vantage for
others, of the weaker European pow
ers; in point of fate, world-conQuest
in the name of the German people,
but to the perpetuation Of the pres
tige and glory of the Hohenzollern
laid, like the prestige and glory Of
the Hapsburg and the Romanoff, in
castism exclusive, unyielding and des-
potic.
What conceivable interest has the
commonalty of Germans-especially
the mass and body of Germans in
America-in the success of such a
cause? The greater number of them
both at heart and by profession are
republicans. They claim to be Amer
leans. They are honest, fruitful, Ia
boring men who quilted Germany to
better their fortunes, many to escape
military duty. Most of them have
prospered. Across the water they
have seen their less fortunate broth
ers precipitated into war of invas-
ion without the opportunity to utter
word of dissent-caught by the Ber
lin militariant like flies and served as
food for powder-literly slaughtered
to make a Hapsburg and a Hohenzol-
lern holiday.
AS in the times of the Dukes of Bur
gundy, when the white hoods of Flan-
ders, defending their homes, their
fields and their looms, and fighting
with their hammers and their scythes,
were moved down by the cannon of
the Feudal Lords, have the poor weav.
ers of Lille and Louvain gone down
before the murderous artillery of a
host deployed by a Feudal Lord aim
ing to re-establish and seat himself
upon the throne of another so-called
Holy Roman Empire, realizing to the
fullest the famed partnership of "Kai-
ser & Co.," as typified by the bias
phemy, "Meinself und Gott."
II.
Do we misstate the fact or over
draw the picture? The Philadelphia
North American has collected the
proof. Led by the Hohenzollern, the
Hapsburg and the Romanoff unite in
the assertion of the Divine Right of
Kings. From each throne-room has
issued the mandate of the War Lord
to the serfs at his feet. AS he launch
ed his cossack hordes against neigh
boring nations, the Russian despot
proclaimed:
with a profound faith in the JUS
tice of our work and humble hope in
omnipotent providence in prayer, we
call Gods blessings on holy Russia
and her valiant troops"
Immediately the war lord of Ger
many issued his powerful defiance:
1--WE were animated by the unbend-
ing desire to secure for ourselves the
place where God has placed us. De-
vout before God and courageous be-
fore the enemy, let us confide oursel-
YES to the everlasting Almighty, who
will strengthen our defense and con-
duct it to good end
| This godly inspiration was uttered
when the government of Germany
had trampled upon a solemn coven-
ant and had begun a ruthless invasion
of the territory of a neutral people.
Within few hours of the time
when German bombs were flung from
the clouds upon the sleeping homes
of Antwerp the imperial government
published to the world that touching
telegram from the Kaiser to the con-
sort of the crown prince:
| 81 rejoice with thee over the first