Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-08-06

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 re-
spect to IL. Within our hospitable
boundaries we have living pros
porous 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. We're there no other reason
this circumstance would tend to keep
us free from any ENHANCEMENT
We may sincerely hope that Japan
VIII not be involved. She will not be
unless the war is carried on to the
far Orient, to India or to China. Ger
many has but a small settlement In
the Orient, while France and Russia
ana England would be allies in this
war and 1t would seem quite unlikely
tnat there would arise any obligation
under the Ehglish-Japanese alliance
Ter Japan to assist England.
OF the great powers of the world.
therefore, the only ones left out are
likely TO be the United States and
Japan. and perhaps only the United
States, by reason of the alliance be-
tween Japan and England Japan. il
she keeps out of the war, will occupy
the same advantageous position.
which will be ours, of complete neu-
tiahty, of an actually judicial atti-
tude, and therefore. of having an Cd
portunity at some time, we may hope.
to mediate between the powers and
to help to mitigate this disaster 10
mankind
AT the time when so many friends
OF peace have thought that we were
making real progress toward the
abolition of war this sudden outbreak
of the greatest war in history is most
/ discouraging. The future looks dark
/ indeed. but we should not despair.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform" Now that
the war is settled fact. we must
hope that some good may come from
this dreadful scOurge. The arma-
ments of Europe had been growing
heavier and heavier, bankruptcy has
stared many of the nations in the
face, conflict between races had be-
gun to develop.
War seemed likely at some stage
and the question which each country
, had to answer for itself was at what
/ time the situation would be most
! favorable for its success The inn
mediate participants have decided
/ that the time has come and thru their
international alliances all Europe is
/ involved.
There has been no real test of the
heavy armament on land or water as
developed 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
come. in the face of an opposition Of
/ cost that which was spent to effec-
( tive purpose.
One thing I think we can reason
ably count on is that with the pros
tration of industry. with the blows to
/ prosperity. with the state Of hux that
is likely 10 follow this titanic strug-
gle. there will be every opportunity
for common sense to resume its
sway; and after the horrible expendi-
tgrc of the blood of the best and the
savings Of the rich and the poor. the
opportunity and the motive for a re-
dJction of armament ana the taking
away OF q temptation to further war
Will be greatly enhanced
Il is an awful remedy, but in the
enc il may be worth what it costs. il
I It makes this the last great war The
influence of America can be thrown
rlost effectively for peace when peace
is possible and for minimum arma-
ments when disaster and exhaustion
shall make the contendng peoples
and their rulers see Things as they
are.
Manor Richelieu, Quebec