New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-07
European Quarrel Based on Territorial
Ourselves or Commit National Suicide.

Britain has the susz Canal. Can anybody
truthfully say that she has not hopes Of
some day seeing the Panama Canal British
possession7 For what Is England fighting
For commercial supremacy? For more ter
ritory7 She surely Is not fighting for civ
iizstlon. How can she with ally like
Russia, which, as A. Perlman 80 truly says
murders it's worthy Jews, wrecks their homes
and drives those whom 10 does not kill into
exile-Russs, which has always been the
least civilized Of all Of Europe's nations
with an ally like France, which fights for
revenge. a revenge she has been nursing for
forty-fvo years; France fights mainly TO re-
gain Alsace Lorraine. which Louis XIV orig
inally took from Prussia. With Italy for an
ally--Italy, which was dishonorably bought
for the possible conquest Of Trent and
Trieste Serbia, the poor little Balkan state,
which sadly enough thought that Engand's
power could keep the Teuton away
Let us now consider the Teutons. Why
militarism? Prince Won Bismarck, the great
est European statesman, knew that Germany,
geographical situation in Europe compelled
her 10 be either a world power or a large
vassal Of another nation. Germany, in order
that she might exist, has had 70 have a
mighty army. II has been Germsny's life
lust as Englands navy has been hers. With
Teuton thoroughness Germany has made her
army one of the seven wonders of the world
This miltsrism, because il has proven a
stumbling block 20 the Allies, because II
has carried on successful offensives, because
il il now beating the Serbians, is all wrong
Allied militarism is Just because it fights for
civilization. Why has this militarsm been
80 prominent, such an outstanding feature
Of all military affairs and ideas during the
past century? Il Is disliked because Of the
need Of compulsory service II has been
especially evident because il has drained
more proportionately upon the population
than I'm any other country. For every three
people IN Germany there are eight in Rus
STA. yet in size the armies are about equal
which means that German militarsm is about
three times as noticeable as Russian; the
same may be said Of France, Italy and Aus
tria.
What effect has militarism had upon Ger
many and the Germans? Germany. like
France and Russia, has been over-taxed and
compulsory service has been exceedingly
strict being two Of the principal reasons
why several hundred thousand Germans have
emigrated 10 this country with their fami-
lies. The military party, on account of the
important part it plays in the life of the ma
ton, has practically ruled by Itself; this has
taken away a good deal OF the democracy
which formerly dominated in the nations
affairs. As to what Edward Thomas said in
yesterdays Tribune, it is only true in some
respects. He has exaggerated In that he
says, where an ideal of military prepared
ness is lived up to large part Of the most
intelligent men are drawn from productive
life and have their lives, during working
hours, wrapped up only in living up to the
regulations of a military handbook and in
studying how the military power may most
efficiently dominate the rest of the commu-
nifty"
This is true in only very small way, be-
cause if IL were thoroughly true how could
Germany carry on such wonderful COM
merce, be one of the best educated nations,
lead the world in the arts, music and sci
ence, manufacture extensively, besides being
a hardy race? No. These things could NOT