The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17

Of the corrupt. arrogant and brutal au-
tocracy whose leading spirit IS the
Grand Duke Nicholas NicholaieNItch?
oh. but Bolglum-that innocent SUI
fering country! And tho broken trea-
tics, Germany broke no treaty that
was indlsputably binding upon anybody.
For the conditions OF the treaty Of 1889
with the Prussian Union had hopeleSsly
changed. and England had IN 1870 rec
ognized that fact Moreover Belgium
was not neutral. She had entered into
one sided and secret military arrange
ments which liberated Germany from
all moral obligation save TO those gem
cral rights OF n neutral power which
Germany promised to restore uu!rjured
and to pay an indemnity for all wrong
,fpue Exactly tic same atiitude was
taken by England IN Delagoa Bay
when she marched through n country
whose neutrality she had herself guar
anteed to strike the Beers In tho back.
And 30 also Japan forced her way
through neutral China. whose neutral
ity she had herself repeatedly guaran-
t,ed I'm order 10 strike T~ug-tao be
hind.
Tie cant and hypocrisy OF the Lon
don press "a sickeuiny. How did Eng
land treat neutral Egypt? How has she
| kept her own solemn promises 20 evac-
uate, given time and time again, only
: to be reclllessly broken. u IL rank
cant TO blame Germany for doing what
every country would do 81 national
safety seemed to require &c. That Bel
GUM has suffered horribly is Engllnds
fault. England could have eNactcd the
offered guarantee Of Germany TO respect
Bolgium's integrity autonomy and SOW
ereignty and pay her compensation for
Z the injury done her Belgium could
have saved herself by accepting the Of
fer OF peace and indemnify made her
! by Germany after the fan OF Luettig
and Namen. England promised a pro-
lection she should have known she could
not give. ami hers IS the blame for Bel
GUMS blasted national life. Hers are
already the curses OF more than one
( thoughtful Belgian.
Surely Bernard Shaw has awakened
even ignorant provincial. easygolug
Americans to the hypocrisy IN Eng
lands claim Of high ethical motive for
going to war. She was just fled In not
wanting Germany on tho coast opposite
her why does she not simply say so
and stop her cant? Her real interest
! is, however. deeper. This war was to
eStermnate n commercial rival and
Made in Germany" is the real cause
OF England's attitude. Why does not
England frankly say so and gain again
her self-respect?
Well, but Austria's peremprory note
and short time for consideration; surely
had Austria waited diplomacy could
have settled the matters Perhaps, but
that was just what Austria could not
AFFORD to have happen Her political
place IN Europe depended upon her
sharp, swift punishment OF the dastard'y
crime against her sovereign house. We
in America acted toward Mexico on far
less provocation with far moro severity
and sharpness. We avenged an Insult
to our sailors by sending a fleet and
occupying town. What would have
happened had, let MS say. Mexicans MUIR
dered our President? Moreover, Russia
has absolutely no material interest 20
protect in Servia that Austria has not
guaranteed to protect. She asked neither
land nor any abrogation OF Soveroientv.
The fact Is both Scrvia and Belgium
are not the causes hut tho nero occa-
slons Of the war. The causes are the
aGgressions OF Russia, or rather OF her
predatory autocracy, There IL no hy-
pocrisy about their plans. They have
frankly waged war after war to gain
an ice free har'bor and Austria was in
their way TO the south over the Balkans.
as Japan barred tho. way TO tho east
over Manchurla and Corea. This am
bition of Russla's autocracy, together
with the wounded vanity OF France has
given England her chance 10 revive
her old time honored policy OF fighting
any rival on the sea.
Germany docs Quite properly aspire
10 no a "Weltnacht" but Il is Ignorance
or worse 10 try ana translate that ny
"Woyld dominion" Germany was not
really a world Power m to 1870; since
then she has become one of the worlds
foremost Powers, That she he given
har r!Shttu' place IN tho commercial
and intellectual development OF tho