The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-21
THE WAR.
lis Primary Factors Enumerated ny
a Cynical Philosopher.

To THE EpiroR OF The SUN-Str:
when people discuss war issues ration
ally there is an approach to an agree
ment on the underlying political ana
geographical factors. the sum total or
which brought about the war. IL ls only
when moral condemnation Is substituted
for reason that there is a wandering
away from these tangible causes into the
laby rinth OF morals and metaphysics:
Thus German Kultur has been pitted
against French culture. militarism has
been made a Satanic force against which
the angel Of democracy wars humani
tarinnism has been contrasted with a
so-called philosophy OF force, and that
philosophy is made important or other.
wise in accordance with Individual
prejudice.
No doubt cultural and ideal forces are
set into play by the momentum of the
war, but such forces may he considered
secondary in the conflict now going on.
VIII you permit a redefinition OF the
primary factors?
But first permit me to draw some dis
tinctions In logia: Germany IL a mill
,arist.c country. but that does not mean
that German militarism is responsible for
the great war. The same causes respon-
Siblc for German military preparedness
are responsible for the war itself. i re-
fer 10 that %untenable state of European
politics. the cumulative result OF geo.
graphical conditions, unnatural llianc
"A conflict of economic interests n the
struggle for expansion. boil Teutonic
and Slavic.
Second, while 1t is true that the ideals
and temper mont OF the nations at war
differ markedly. leading superficial OBJ
servers to believe that such differences
helped to bring on the war. still 1t should
be noted that every nation reacted TO the
material issues at stake IN accordance
with the universal principle OF self-in-
,crcst and not with any regard for ao-
stract moral concepts. To illustrate: h
problem in southeastern Europe is a
reality, n most tragic reality, even III you
take away German milltarism or Rus
sian ambition. That problem Is so bound
up with the future of the great Powers
that 1t remains. and will remain. the
transccndcut issue. II involves likewis
a group OF small n~ationalities. engaged
IN no militaristic adventures, but with a
problem OF survival.
For England it opens up Oriental prob
lens OF importance for France 1t in
wolves the status of the nation In Europe
az well as a free hand to develop her
colonial empire for Austria 1t means
air In which to breathe for Russia,
warm water in which 10 navigate for
ltaly 10000. 900 unredeemed souls and
ports OF strategic as well as scenic
value.
Each nation. following the line OF self
interest. treated this issue In accordance
with it's national temperament. Eng
land played dice with the devil and beat
him at 1t. France embraced Russia
after the 1871 debacle and I'm order to
save her dignity in Europe gave ducats
to that country and exchanged baliets'
prose style. music and cooking. Austria
strengthened her position by selling Bos-
mia and herzegovina, Russia instigated
insidlous anti-Austr!an propaganda.
The military reaction TO this issue was
seen In the feverish building Of Russian
railroads I'm tie pericctins of the Ger
man war machine in the augmenting
Of Frances army and in England's naval
growth. True. at one time England Of
fcrod to limit the building Of warships,
and there is no reason to doubt the
sincerity Of that proposal. But that
offer came because England's interest
in this century Is TO keep her posses
s.ous by keeping the peace. The results
thus outlined were FASTENED by the ex-
istcnCe OF i~nconEruous alliances. ex'
plainahle only by the needs Of the Euro
pean situation. which made IL necessary
for France and Russia to combine
against Germany, n union feared bu'
often anticipated by Bismarck. The
Italian status was also dictated by
cru1est necessity. Illustrating that ma
terra. interests both create and destro!
ideals.
Therefore II is argued here that the
opposition between the cultures anc
Ideals OF the combatants are surfac.
manifestations when compared TO tn
fundamental material issues. OF cours,
ilcaloGic factors do play a role, but I
IL "A role analogous 20 that of the chorus
In a Greek play. When, therefore. mos
OF our newspapers iind moral issues un
DERIVING his war they mistake mrs
things and last, cause and effect. In
less the roots OF conflict are remove
war follows and war is a neglt.on o
moral theory. II Is my belief that unit
moral concepts squoTe with reality
rather than with subjective yearning
such concepts can remain nothing NOR,
than symbols,
II any emotion n appropriate on con
: t~cuplat.ug the war in Europe II SHOULD
, ho similar 70 the feeling experienced
hv one woo reads a Sophoclean tragedy
? The nludl Judgments of most Of GU
papers suggest the thought that the.
view the war more as a cock fight tina,
as an inevitable tragedy.
ABRAHAM SOLOMON.