TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-12-14
An English view Of the war
before hostilities began.
Reprinted from the London Daily News
and Leader Of Aug. /, 1914.
BY Mr.. A. G. Gardiner, Editor OF London
Daily News and Leader, and author
OF several important books.
4 has proved o be absolutely prophetie
WHY WE MUST NOT FIGHT-ENG-
LAND AND THE CRISIS.

The following article was written for
publication before actual hostilities be-
gan. 1t was printed, but suppressed i'm
mediateIy upon the censor's appoint
ment. Some few copies Of the paper
containing the statement we're distrib-
uted and one OF these copies was
brought 10 this country within the last
few weeks. Its authenticity Is youehed
for unquestionsbIy.l
The greatest calamity in history is
upon us--a calamity so vast that our
senses are numbed with horror. We
hardly dare look into the pit that
yawns at our feet and yet any hour.
any minute may plunge us in beyond
all hope OF return. At this moment
our fate is being sealed by hands that
we know not, by motives alien TO our
interests, by influences that IL We knew
we should certainly repudiate. Every
step at this hour may be irrevocable.
The avalanche trembles on the brink
and touch may send II shattering into
the abyss.
The peace OF every land, the happi-
ness of every home in Europe, the very
bread by which we live, hang at this
moment upon the win OF one man, the
Gar OF Russia. IL Ia he whose hand
is on the avalanche. II is he who with
one stroke OF the pen, one word OF the
mouth, one motion Of the head can
plunge Europe in a sea OF blood and
bury all the achievements Of our civil.
ization in anarchy. The whole cont.
nent is trembling with the tread OF
armed men From the Neya TO the
Rhone, the legions are In motion a
friend OF mine came through Prussia
two days ago. At the stations, as he
passed, he saw the platforms lined with
men in private clothes, awaiting their
dispatch to an unknown doom on an
unknown field-men who have no share
in this quarrel Of the dynasts, who do
not know what Is Is about, who viii
slay or be slain without hate and with
on. understanding. And another tells
us that as he lay at Dion three nights
ago he heard the tramp OF men and the
rumbling Of artillery all through the
dark hours and that when he came
down in the morning there was not a
waiter in the hotel. They, too, had
gone in the dark TO meet their doom.
And at st, Petersburg, there sits the
man who has every one Of these lives
and millions more Mt his mercy, and
who at one word can let he'll loose
upon the face Of Europe. Is he man
we can trust with this momentous
poweri A weak man, superstitious
under the influence now OF inhnman
philosophers. like Pobiedcnostseff OF
Meshkershtsky, now Of mystics and
charlatans, like PHILIPPE and Raspntin
who decoratcs his Black Hundreds on
the morrow Of their massacres and
holds half Of Eafope in the grip Of q
mediaeval despotism-is he the man
whom the Tree peoples Of France and
England can trust with their destiny
Is he the man for whom We are going
10 shed our blood and our tressurei
Is Russia the type Of civilization that
we are prepared to bleed ourselves
white to make triumphant over Europe
and Asial
The question i for "a For th0usi