South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-18

verdict the future historian may pass upon
other contentious that all the rainbow OF OIL
cial books which the warning nations have be-
slowed upon the world in justification Of their
behavior. there will be dissent from the
judgment that Germany planned the war, man
ufactured it, and delivered the goods. In the
light OF all that ha- happened since July 81
year ago the proposition that either England
or Russia was prepared for war has become
supremacy ridiculous. They were not prepared
for wa then, they are not prepared for 1t now.
after all the tremendous efforts that they have
put forth since the beginning of hOstilties II
either nation had been even half as well pre-,
pared for war as Germany was, there would
have been no war.
The entire series of events from the invasion
Of Belgium until the present moment disposes
once and for all of the preposterous argument
that military preparedness, in and of itself, is
9 menace to peace. II is the preparedness OF
the outlaw, the nation that intends 20 make
war that is menace. Ii England mao been
prepared, even to such an extent as SWltzer'
land prepared, German soldier would
have set foot on Belgian soil. In this sense
only, and not In the sense in which Germany
has asserted. Great Britain may be held to be
morally responsible for this unspeakable calam
ity. Great Britain had plenty OF warning she
drifted on. unthinking, unprepared
Now at last, the nations that are arrayed
against Germany are awake and thinking, al
though. because of the magnitude OF the task
full effectiveness in defense Of that kind OF
civilization which comprises the responsible
state and liberty. The neutral nations also are
awake. and are beginning TO accept the
certain conclusion that they likewise must be
prepared. But how prepared? a third great
practical question presents itself to the Worlo
today in this form.
Doubtless there will be much failure to I'M
derstand the true character of Germany's pre-
paredness Doubtless many wrong differences
Will There wi hp
mind in cove -nmental circles, we'll as among
the masses OF earnest men. But little by little
the facts Will stand out in relief; they will be
crasped by the more intelligent leaders Of pub
lie opinion and the world will see that here, as
in the matter Of preparing or not preparing at
all choice OF tremendous Importance must be
made
The industrial revolution OF century and a
half ago began in a world politically organized
under mOnarchical forms. Coal. steam and
machinery transformed that world: they more
than transformed il, they reconstructed it. I'm
mense forces OF liberalization were set at work.
The middle classes OF an older time, whose
political power. although not negligible, was not
ADEQUATE to cope with the land-owning arts
tocracy. became through wealth and capital
ownership. politically ascendant With their
power came a IGisser fare philosophy and a
general acceptance, Great Britain and IN
America. OF the teachi,, that the functions OF
government should be lew and simple; thar
business should be let alone; that individual
enterprise should have the freest opportunity.
Under these conditions, ii was held. the world
would prosper nightly and make progress
Quite naturally, a certain further inference
Mas drawn. II was that a nation so organized
on the principle OF indvidualstic liberty, with
a govern neat relatively weak, and not NEEDLE
some. was a stronger nation than one authort
tativelv ruled I say the inference was natural
The only observatiOnal comparisons possible
we're between these new maryelously busy
rich industrial nations and the authoritatively
governed nations OF earlier time, in which
property In land and aristocratic privilege were
supremely important. The Socialists alone
urged that uerhaos men we're attributing spec