TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-11-12
Rev. DR.. Hall on the War.

i
New York, Nov. l0.-"Far from want
ing war, Germany did not even expect
it," This Is the statement made by
Dr. Thomas c. Hall of the Union Theo
logical seminary and Columbia univer,
sity. DR.. Hail, who has just returned
from Germany, where he has passed
many years, is an old student Of Ger
man affairs ard spends his summers
for the most part in Europe. He is a
son of the Rev. DIR. John Hall, for
many years Iastor of the Fifth Ave.
nue. Presbyterian church. He married
in Germany and has an intimate know
ledge of the war and its causes.
Il know Germans in all classes of
society" said DIR. Hall in discussing Ger
many's attitude toward the present
conflict "and do not know, even
among the younger officers, one who
wanted war. Germany was growing
stronger and richer through her trade,
and every German knew that her trade
needed peace.
"Bernhardis book, even though by
some it has been taken as an indica-
tion OF warlike attitude on Germany's
part, no more represents the feeling OF
the average German than Hobson repre-
sents sober American opinion. II we
were, which God forbid, to be dragged
into war with Japan by her attemp-
ting TO dominate China, would 1t be
fair to quote MIR. Elobson as showing
we all sought war with Japsnl
Zone third of the German voters
and Germany has manhood suffrage
are Social Democrats and utterly OPP
posed to war. The whole industrial
community has dreaded war, and the
emperor has cherished "a his chief am
bition the hope that he would 60 down
into history as the emperor Of psace.p
"The phrase that the war Is strug-
gle of civilization against German mill
tarism is a bopelessly thoughtless one.
France has nearly twice the percentage
of her population under arms that Ger.
many has and spends 1878 head for
her army against $3.50 for England and
s4.75 for Germany. And the fart that
France and Germany are nations in
arms, far from making them want war,
has steadying effect.
at is true that Germany has mill
tary class, but all nations have one.
And in Germany no officer can vote or
take any part in political life, SO that
war and peace do not rest in the hands
of the military men. There is no doubt
that Russia IA the real source Of the
trouble. She 10 pushing her Balkan po
Icy, and once sure OF the support Of
England she went to war to regain her
prestige lost through the japanese war,
to avenge herself for what she con-
sidered diplomatic defeat after the
Balkan war and to divert attention
from the growing discomfort within her
own borders. 1t was only matter OF
time with her, and, assured OF the
assistance OF the British navy, she con
sidered her task Of going through
Austria to Constantinople an easy one.
"Gcrmany's victory. far from being
a world menace, Is the best hope OF
peace. Germany Is the only great pow
er that has not in the last forty-four
years carried ON war of aggression.
England has seized the Boer republics;
we have taken the Philippines; France
has taken huge slices Of North Africa;
Italy has also struggled for Africa.
Germany alone has followed ways Of
peace and paid for anything she got.
Wars Of aggression are not part OF
history, nor is her form Of
government, SO very like our own, well
adapted to imperial conquest.
"Germany's government is like ours
in that it is federation OF sovereign
states, which have surrendered part
of their state powers TO central au-
thority, as We have done. In many
ways these sovereign states are far
freer than are even our states. They
have more home rule and more decen-
tralization than we have, much to their
advantage. RDt any imperial plan
must carry all these states, and wars
OF aggression never would be able TO
unite them all. The power OF the en-
peror is in rlany ways less than that
Of the president Of the United States.
Just take the president, his office is
that OF commander in chief OF the army.
Business in Germany has not been
ruined by the war. Much disturbance
and loss are, OF course. present, but food
is cheap and plentiful. In fact, hear
more about suffering In this country !
than in Germany, because our indi-
vidualistic society is apt to break down
nnter any extra strain. All the money |
needed for the war she has raised easi.
" herself and can raise twice as much
more II it is needed Every man, woman
and child knows that Germany Is figll-
ting not for glory or territory or trade,
but just for her right 10 life and the
privilege Of peaceful development.