Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-03
Press Comment

Press Comment
Davenport Times: History ought to
be one of the most interesting subjects
in the schools this year, and 1t will be
II the teachers show capacity to con-
meet the past with the present, even
incidentally.
Kansas City Journal: Kansas demo.
Gratis can sympathize with Germany.
They know what it is to have an ally
who fails them at a critical time. The
Bull Moose party Is the Italy of the
present Kansas campaign.
Cedar Rapids Republican: The jap
anese upon entering the war at least
did not commit the sacrilege OF invok-
ing God to help them kill their oppon.
ents-they left their gods at home.
Perhaps, they are not as "christianiz-
ed as the Europeans.
Council Bluffs Nonpareil: Some Of
the things now happening in Europe
remind US of the report. sent home by
the Spanish commander of Manila af-
ter he had met George Dewey in May.
1893, to the effect that it had been "a
sad but glorious day for Spain"
Burlington Hawk-Eye: GIVE the DEM
ocrats of South Carolina credit for a
returning sanity. The unspeakable
Governor Cole L. Blease, who was a
candidate for the United States SEN
ate, has been defeated by the present
incumbent, Senator e. D.. Smith. With
Vardaman. of Mississippi, in the SEN
ate there is no need for another of that
vinatge of bigotry and brutality.
Davenport Times: It is said the
members of the paving committee OF
tho Davenport council will go to Des
Moines and some other cities at their
own expense to investigate paving
Without expressing any opinion on the
quality Of paving they will find in the
capital city, the tip may be given, how
ever, that they will find considerably
more dirt on the pavements in Des
Moines than they could find on pave
ments in Davenport In a weeks hunt.
Clinton Herald: The threat OF a gov.
eminent embargo on wheat exports
ought to warrant enough of drop to
squeeze out the little fellows who
bought on the rise, and are unable to
stay in the market on sharp decline
Something has to be done every once
in while to squeeze the little fellows,
or there is no fun in the game.
los
about the European war is that it us
credits Christianity before the world.
Many who disbelieve the doctrines OF
Christianity are utterly and bitterly op-
posed to war. They know that all the
nations involved in the present strug-
gle call themselves Christian nations.
They read that the opposing SOW
eregns exhorted their armies to pray
for victory, which can only mean sue
cess in slaughter They say. '"This is
Christianity" and turn away in dis
gust. The only answer can be that
this is not Christianity. A great pagan
was once asked what he thought Of
Christianity, and replied: 1T has never
been tried" So the governments Of
today are not putting their
Christianity into practice. Christ new
er taught cooperation and self denial
and helpfulness for individuals, and
strife. self assertion and oppression
for nations. They have misunderstood
and are misrepresenting him.
Chicago Tribune: Antwerp Is for
titled town. 1t is subject to lombard
ment and attack. Noncombatants I'M
avoidably involved in it are victims of
chance. If the armed forces OF ma
ton make stand within a town, the
town suffers the consequences, al
though opportunity for the withdrawal
of civilians usually Is given. II siege
guns had thrown shells into Antwerp
there would be protest only If the fire
seemed Intentionally directed against
inoffensive buildings or against hos
pitals A Zeppelin drops bombs from
above and there is an instant protest
in the name of humanity.
Probably because the method Of at.
tack is strange and terrifying beyond
Its rover 20 do damage there Is an in
stinctive response to the protest. War
Is a curious illustration of human ir-
1t is proper to starve a ma.
ton by closing it's ports. but 1t is not
proper to attack it's population by the
more direct means of explosives.
Military men have contempt for the
power Of air craft to do material dam
age by dropping bombs. They may
terrify, but they they are not likely to
be effective. They may keep the
civilians of an invested town in con-
1itIon Of nervous collapse without aid
ng in the reduction Of its Notifications
Unless the ultimate mercifulness of
such attack could be proved, it would
be the instructive Judgment that tho
Use of it is wanton and without excuse.
If anything goes" in war, then
poisoned wells and dumdum bullets are
reasonable instruments. They are not
80 regarded and such attacks as that
II the Zeppelin upon civilian quarters
n Antwerp may also come under the
prohibition of the rules of war.
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