The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-12

not reSpect II. with u
readiness declared her determination
10 respect international conventions
and not to lose sight of the fact that
Belgian neutrality was guaranteed by
international treaties. But there is a
hole IN all neutrality treaties through
when II State can drive q coach
and-six. Germany drove a whole
army through it. She asked Tor a
right of way for her army, undertake
ing 10 a all expenses and to make
good all unavoidable damages: and
she added tina a refusal would place
her at such a disadvantage that she
would interpret ii as an act of war
on the part Of Belgium. Britain ther
informed the Belgian Government
that h expected Belgium to resist
the passage Of Germany by every
means in her power; and the terms
on this communication were suffici-
entity ~perenptory to suggest tina ON
pliance with Germany's demand
might be taken as an act Of war on
the Allies.
Thus Belgium was the
devil and the deep sea. She was
forced to make her soil the field Of
battle Tor the most destructive war
fare ever Waged in the worlds history.
Can II be denied tina there is here
no question OF the romantic rescue of
a distressed nation by British and
french knights Grant. but a deIiber.
ate ln11lctlon upon her of a frightful
Calamity by those who progressed to
oeIend her no less han by those who
MADE war on her? Grant. if Won like
tndt the calamity was necessary and
inevitable; hat il will end in 2 han
pier 1reer, better Europe. as all the
~neingerents declare it must if only
they are victorious. All the more
reason WhN Ire nncf cA1,,Il - --
over all n nations, and not flung
win crushing weight on Belgium.
VINO q 10 European grievances. no
european ambitions, no stake in the
balhans, no dread of Russia, no quar-
rel with France or Germany, and no
complications with England.
Yet it is on her soil that the
mighty armies of these other Pow
erS insist on fighting their batfies. II
is her cities that thev bombard her
villages that they sweep away in hur.
rlcanes OF fire, and her people whom
tney rum n murder; whilst. as if
all TINS were not enough, the Ger
mans force her to take up arms her
SELF IN defence of her national honor.
ana the french and British use her
army as an auxiliary force, and thrust
1t into the forefront Of the battle to
take the first assault of the best nre-
pareo Oelllgerent until they are them
selves quite ready to AXE the field in
earnest. II Belgium proudly accented
that peril without a remonstrance
are we To make her acceptance an ey-
cuse for denying our full
lty in the matter?
30 Tar, L nave put the position with
Strlct ln1partiality as betWeen tho +uo
belllserent alliances; for | know o,,ito
wen now uTed the neutral nations are
" ne eiloiess they receive
] at tho CTN1Yl 1n-
% the spolleSS innocence OF the Deo-
PIE VINO give the assurances and tba
abandoned villainy Of their ~nnonar
But must now dwell on the services
rendered 10 western democracy nv
belSlum when She at last had TO tax
sizes IN n conflict. That point uaS
reached when, after she had yjndi-
ca'eu ier nonor and proved her mill.
taIy by her thrilling defence
Oh LieSe, the Germans made p fnu 40
acknowledgements of her and
renewed their oTTer to pay their yvav
ana respect her national rights Now
,hele can De 10 question that Belgium
ls1Vlh5 done enough for honor. and
indeed astonished Europe by doing
huch more IMAM enough. would have
oeen neld justified in accepting Ger.
nany's proposal. Many people still
thlnk that she should have done So
ana they are right as far as her own
immediate interest was concerned
but belgium took a larger view
n refused the offer in the interests
o democracy which was the real is
sue al stake between Prussia an1
france, and thereby placed NOT oni,
all temperate Europe but America &c
wen under a sacred obligation ia bar
II she a done this at q r1on1ant
"hen she was reinforced by tha
armies OF France and Britain. and
trr atr oy d prospect Of immediate
triumph LOT them va rD.~I.
counted her action as a ynera US
OF prudence But she did # u-bsH
ner position was desperate: when ~
eHeihE was Pressing her with orar
wheliningiy superior o3
T HTen her friends. who had ollie
holi tba;r a. Llese, We're unable to
&C. hIe own I und or even to re.
aa oelhs swept back almost IA ~
9"'7' y FarlS. Brussels was defenca-