The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-06

49, uUItlUlnE themselves 10 nOrrl-
fed humanity. is no ordinary
conflict arising out of a diplomatic
quarrel which timely concessions and
-nft words nigh, have settled with
finally. In It's present issues It is the
result of a carefully laid scheme of
which tnc leaders Of the German people
are the playwrights and ;hc Kaiser the
chief actor. 1t was Clevcrly thought out
md patiently prepared. The manifold
forces let loose 10y the Berlin Govern
inent for tho purpose of leading mp 70 a
coup de theatre which involves the ex-
silence of cultured Europe had long
..ncc got beyond the control even of
nose who were employing them. All
nat was SIN possible was the choice Of
ne moment for ringing up the curtain
md striking the first fell blow. And.
,ooth to say. Judging by the data in the
hands of the Berlin Foreign Office. no
ronjuncture could have been more pro-
'iuuus To q, rmdny's designs than the
present. For circumstance had realized
most Of the dies red conditions. and the
Kaiser, without hcsitating, awaited him
elf of his good fortune II is useless
% dissemble the fact that the copious
Attenuation accumulated in the VIII
helmstras,c warranted the belief that
mere could nor have been a moro aus
picious moment for the real cation Of
ne first part If the ka!scrs programme
nan the present. II Germany be indeed
set apart by Providence rs The people
hosen 10 rule Europe and sway the
world, the outcome of the present con
lie; should be- to sanction thi, .nscru-
able deer of fate. Certainly the hour
mas struck for which she has been wait
.ng and keeping her powder dry during
The past forty years. /, is now OF
never.
OF this ingeniously conceived scheme
The Achilles tendon was its diplomatic
aspect. And Eorc prussian clumsincss
asserted Itself rrepressibly. as is its
wont. \ worse case with which to go
betore the world than that of Germany
n the present struggle 1t would be- hard
. imagine She has deliberately
brought about crude. naked might
-tvugsle. in which war lust and brute
forCc are pittcd against the most sacred
and imprescriptiblc rights that lie at the
very roots of organized society. And
sac calls IN God to- help her to effect
ueT purpose,
The British nation j. loath to think
wi of its no.ghbor>. II generously
credits them with the bcst--or at any
a,e the least wicked motives. and.
wen when the evidence on the Other
side is Overwhelming. gives them the
benefit OF the doubt. How strong tae
evidence was n this case / pointed GU:
over and over again. In 1871. for IN
.tdnCc | wrote. since EurupeaniSm
was killed at Sedan and buried At
Frankfurt 1.-THE Main. over forty
wears ago, International treaties nave
1een steadily losing their binding force
Their significance has been gradually
transformed into that of historic souve-
nirs. symbolzing a given political con-
unCturc. To-day they are nothing
more. The unique, solid found ltion of
peace that remains IL readiness ON the
part of the peace Powers to defend it
IN the battlefield"
OptinistS In this country objected
that the German people and their Chan
nellor were peacefully disposed, and Ut
iery averso to letting loose the horrors
of an unparalleled war And | replied
hat even if in certain sense the OPP
timists were right the attitude Of the
herman nation was beside the question.
Nobody ever wants war, but only the
Spoils it brings.
Method characterized all prepare =
vsb ha Itt,i oh
ion was particularly indulgent Fore
most among them was the increase OF
he German army and the levy of the
non-recurring war tax. Now II Russia
mad had recourse to measure of this
sind all Europe woulG have camored
for explanations. Germany was al
lowed 10 have her way unquestioned
Honi soft dui NAL Y pense. And vet
the German Chancellor dropped a hint
nf his real purpose which ought to have
neen sufficient to put Europe on Its
guard. He spoke Of the coming conflict
between the Teutons and the Slavs And
n truth that was the keynote to the
situation In Russia it was heard and
understood Whether il was also taken
20 heart and adequately acted upon
N. re Is another matter. In these isl
1nds most people listened. smiled anC
went their way unheCdng. Vet thi.
Wa tho first step toward tackling the
l2nt"nt" Powers one by one, which con
stltutcd tho alpha and omega of tn,
l\aiserS policy.
Another Of the timely prcCaution.
iakcr ny Germany. who was resolved t
make ready for every contingency, how.
over improbable and u general Euro
pcan war seemed even to her statesmen
most improbable was tho purchase o
horses She despatched agents to Grea
britain, and especially to Ireland il
search Of mounts suitable for cavalr,
service, and d,~', drauEht horses An,
1uring the months of March, April an,
May ,argc numbers Of these animals
were exported from the four provinces
~ ireland To- liamnurg without cNcitinl
protest or nCraSloninE comment Fo
he British are a trusting people. An,
now the French army is obliged To maxi
an effort To- acquire q fresh supply O
.nouLts. and may encounter very scrlou
difficulties, Corn VAS also laid in. am,
nesNy shipments ur II went to llambur,
for the ttuops
III" German barking manmuvrc
urrc begun later, Enormous sum. q
""'d W"r" garu"rcd "a u, German nnan