The daily Nome industrial worker., 1915-12-23

far less attractive than the epics ot a Goethe or the lyrics of a Heine. Utterly without sentiment, as all commercialism basically is, the Ger man commercialism swept agains; British trade supremacy with the remorseless energy of rising tide, and the ruthless sufficiency of scientific laws practically applied
 The Bismarkian idea of German commercial greatness scented the necessity of colonies, colonies which would challenge the British achieve. ments in this direction, and which would also supply an outlet for the overflow energy and vitality of the people. To Bismark there never was any doubt of the real oppo- nent which would have to be crush ed in order that commerce and trade and industry and finance might rise upon its ruins. His
  betokened new contempt for things British which helped in no small measure to strengthen the confidence of the aggressive com mercialism of the new empire British statesmen were laths of wood painted to look like iron British cowardicc would one day astonish the world. These two say ings were attributed to him and re- main uncontradicted.
 Naturally the British commercial world reflected this rivalry which despite lingering of the old school of mutual admiration between the two countries finally swept England by storm.
 There was not at any time any antagonism between British worc- CTS or German workers; they were merely the paWns in the game moved by the master hands. But gradually the clash of commercial interests resulted in both sides preparing for a war such clashes showed to be sooner or later inevitable. These clashes developed certain psycholo- gical impulses which hastcned the day, and when two nations stand tc arms and facing one another watch ing ore another's every move, whei is inevitable but war? So we can safely lay aside any cause for the war other than the system which makes nations commercial rivals.
 Moreover what is to be gained by establishing peace at the present time? Not one of eho exciting causes of war will have been removed The socialists know that should peace be made tomorrow it would end the war only in a compromise or under such conditions as to pro- mote at a future date a war of re- venge.
 Already capitalism has led man. kind to the parting of the ways. Either they continue on the road of capitalism to again and aga1n indulge in fratricidal conflicts, or they turn to collectiveism wherein lies the only reason for peace.
 If an untimely ending is brought to the present conflict by either sides surrender, nothing will have been gained and the nations will still stand awaiting the call to an- other war which will make the pre- sent one a dwarf in comparison.
 The socialists cannot pretend to be in the dark as to the cause of these wars. They know that wars are merely effects; apparently terri fic effects but merely resultants Of the forces of capitalism.
 Their energies should be directed against capitalism then not against one of it's effects which after all is said and done may be by no means the worst of them.
 A peace propaganda may be good politics, but it is not good socialism To socialism this war is merely the capitalist system in full, red poi sonous blossoming. But in .ne blooming or in the sere and yellow leaf it is always the Upas tree, nci- some, deadly and fit but for the burning.