Evening star., 1914-08-09

be a burden upon the United States and
Is a great misfortune, looked at solely
from the standpoint of the United States,
we have every reason to be happy that
we are able to preserve strict neutrality
in respect to it. Within our hospitable
boundaries We have living prosperous and
contented emigrants in large numbers
from all the countries who are to take
part in the war, and the sympathies of
these people will. of course. be with their
respective native lands. Were there no
other reason this circumstance would
tend to keep US free from any entangle-
ment.
As to Jepan's Position.
I'VE may sincerely hope that Japan
will not be involved. She will not be un-
less the war is carried on to the far
orient. to India or to China Germany
has but small settlement in the orient.
while France and Russia and England
would be allies in this war and it would
seem quite unlikely that there would
arise any obligation under the English
England
OF the great powers of the world,
therefore, the only ones left out are
hkely to be the United States and Japan,
and perhaps only the United States. by
reason of the alliance between Japan and
war will occupy the same advantageous
position which will be ours of complete
neutrality. OF an actually judicial atti-
tude, and therefore, of having an oppor-
tunity at some time. we may hope, to
mediate between the powers and 70 helm
to mitigate this disaster to mankind.
At the time when so many friends of
peace nave thought that We were making
real progress toward the abolition Of war.
TINS sudden outbreak OF the greatest war
in CT TO-
ture looks dark. indeed. but we should
not despair.
God moves in mysterious way His
wonders to perform Now that the war
v settled fact, we must hope that some
good may come from this dreadful
scourge. The ornaments of Europe have
been growing heavier and heavier; bank
ruptcy has stared many of the nations In
the face. conflict between races had be-
gun to develop.
The Time Has Come.
War seemed likely at some stage, and
the question which each country had Ia
answer for itself was at what time the
situation would be most favorable for its
success. The immediate participants have
decided that the time has come and
through their international alliances all
Europe is involved.
There has been no real test of the
heavy armament on land or water, as de-
veloped by modern invention, and this
contest Is to show what has been well
spent for war purposes and what has
been wasted 1t is by no means certain
that waste will not exceed in cost that
which was spent to effective purpose
One thing I think we can reasonably
count on is that with the prostration of
industry. with the blows to prosperity,
with the state Of flux that Is likely to fol-
low this titanic struggle, there will be
every opportunity for common sense to
resume its sway. and after the horrible
expenditure of the blood of the best and
the savings Of the rich and the poor, the
opportunity and the motive for reduc-
ton of armament and the taking away of
a temptation to further war will be great
ly enhanced.
1T is an awful remedy. but in the end
it may be worth what it costs, if it makes
this the last great war. The influence of
America can be thrown most effectively
for peace when peace is possible. and for
minimum armaments when disaster and
exhaustion shall make the contending
peoples and their rulers see things as
they are.
Manor Richelieu. Quebec