The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-20
SEES WAR
IF GERMANY WINS
l.. s. Stands Between the Kai-
ser and a World Empire,
lie Declares.
RIGHT TO RULE IS STAKE

MrLronp. Pa. May 1s.--rn a statement
issued here to-day Clifford Pinchot said /:
What strikes me most in getting back
from Europe Is that the deliberate MUIR
der of men,, women and children on the
I.isitania has brought the war home to
the United States. | do not believe that
our people have realized until now what
his war Is or what IL means to us.
The right Of men to rule themselves 10
at stake. Our countrymen on the Lusi-
tania were killed because an autocratic
military empire is trying to seize the
domination of the world AT the expense
OF the self-governing nations.
This war Ia a death struggle between
democracy on the one side and armed
imperialism on the other. France Is our
sister republic England Is n great and
free democracy Russia itself Is on the
nigh road toward democratic govern
m"nt. Germany. on the other hand, 10
not ruled by the people, but by Prussia
and the Kaiser. The victory of Ger
many would not be the victory OF her
people. but the successful effort OF a re-
stricted military caste to get more power.
Bernhard expressed the belief Of this
caste when he said that Germany must
control the world or 20 under.
IF the people did rule in Germany the
invasion OF Belgium. the calculated
atrocities committed on helpless people
and the murder OF our citizens would
not have taken place. The people of
Germany would never have lone these
things or their own accord. They were
done because they were ordered to be
done by military autocrats. In remorse
Tor killing a woman and a child. "A
wounded German said TO his nurse. sis
ter-in-law Of a man | know: DO you
NM IL --..
officer held his pistol to my head until
| did it?'
IF the German war lord should win,
which II has long been evident he can
not do. we Tot have to face the GER
'ainty OF a conflict with German mill
tarism. because we should stand between
IT and world empire. just as the Allies
do to-day. We should then he forced
either TO have our rights treated as the
rights Of humanity nave been treated
by the ruling German military class
in this war or to defend them.
W SHOULD have to take our turn N
protecting the principles OF self-govern-
ment against Imperialism In arms or
loSe our self-respect. In that event, OF
course. We should have to fight, but IL
the Allies win no such choice will be
forced upon US Their success will not
mean war foi the United States on the
contrary 1t will mean victory for the
free institutions which we hold dear
and the chance for every nation TO work
out it's W destiny in peace.
THE Allies are fighting for the prin-
ciples for which We stand and our peo-
pie are right in hoping and believing
MAT they will win. 1t is almost as i'm
portant for US that they should win as IL
is for the Allies themselves
The worst calamity this war could
bring upon the world next to the sue
cess of military Imperialism would he
a half baked inconclusive peace-a
peace which would permit the German
military class to get ready for a second
attempt 20 dominate the world. That
kline of peace would do nothing but in
sure another war. We want a Just and
lasting peace and not a mere intermis-
sion In the fghting"