The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31
~ ERNST HAECKEL.
From Nord ind Sued.

manClOuSlN AtIdtktu ny NUS
sia and France. was compelled
70 declare war against these allied
states. and when on that same day. so
noteworthy In the worlds history, Eng
land also declared war against Germany
few hours later. the curtain was
raised which had previously covered the
dark stoge Of the world.
u was at once made clear that this
unnatural triple robber-ailiance" had
been formed for the sole purpose Of an
initiating the German Empire. At
once the competitive struggle which we
had waged so steadily became war for
existence. u was also made plain and
t. has become even palmer in the light
Of iunumerable direct and indirect docu-
mentarv proofs. that the chief inspirer
OF this war was England.
Ten years before Edward VII. had
.no the encrcling OF her power and
with all the means at his disposal had
worked for the establishment OF the So
c.red Entente Cordiale." Now, at
last .he executor of his will, Sir Edward
ORGY. thought that the right moment
had arrived to carry out the plan. The
murder Of the royal pair ~ Saraievo,
encouraged by the Servian Government
was only a first step toward the out
break Of war. Russia. who interfered
70 prevent the just punishment OF this
crime utilized It as an excuse for de-
clsring war upon her hated neighbor,
Austria
France. possessed 10y its foolish de-
sire Tor revenge. Joined in the war to re-
gain Alsace- Lorraine and possibly 70
gain possession Of the entire lef. valley
Of the Rhine The violation Of the neu-
trall,y " Belgium, which France con-
templatcd tbut in which fortunately
We anticipated her by a few days.,
served England merely as a pretext for
declaring the war which she had SO
long had in mind.
30 long as we had to wage the war
10 existence with the two great Pow
ers on the east and west. Russia and
France. It was only European war
which would tax our resources fully,
but with the aid of our ally, Austria
Hnnzarv. might be brous ht 10 a speedy
and successful close. It was only when
England came in with these two allies
ffor centuries her most dangerous enc
m!es) tina the war took on tho COM
ploXion OF a real world war, the course
and end of which We cannot yet see
distinctly.
only through rn-iands fault ami inc
Injecting into the contest of her coll
onies in all parts OF the earth, and
h. kr.f nar s,i n ,,f
Ciermanic Grca' Britain with Monaghan
Japan. did tho world war spread TO I'M
heard Of dimensions. which surpass
al wars hitherto waged between ma
TONS. There are millions of soldiers on
either side: billions are being expended
FOR equipment, ammunition and provi-
sions: battle lines extend for hundreds
81 miles, and every perfection Of means
~ Naging war--giaut bombs and ma
chine guns. superdreadnoughts and sub
marines. Zepp5lius and aeropianes--is
brought into play.
Among the great questions raised by
his world war the most important Is
tho relation Of the two great Germanic
sister nations. Great Britain appears
70 he more c.osey connected with Ger
many than with any other nation In
oil Europe by speech. customs, devotion
to science and art, original development
Of philosophy and religion; and yet she
has become our most bitter and implac-
sbls foe. even to the death. why?
Fntrely because of competitive hatred
and envy of The well being and blossom
ing civilization Of the united German
Umpire: provoked that our industry Is
better and that our wares are cheaper
than the English; envying the con-
tinual spread II our word commerce
4 Il.
civilized nations.
For four hundred years the British
people have str.ven for the maritime
control of the world. England's geo.
graphical position, her enormous wealth
and enormous navy have all heir, d.
The ideal If the English nation was best
expressed by Lord Palmerston when he
sad Fright or wrong, my country"
The English cherish the conceit that
England Is the "elect' among nations
chosen by divine Providence 10 bring
true civilization to all other nations.
England has pursued this aim re.
leptessly for 400 years, unmoved by
any questions Of conscience or shame
Her most effective weapon has been
as Il is now, to infiame the nations OF
tho Continent against one another, st
that they cut each other to pieces
Nuen England steps III ana HIiS mel
purse out Of their necessities.
The written rights of nations arr
only on paper 50 far as England Il
concerned; at every opportunity, as
m the presen; instance she violates
written agreements. breaks oaths
coerces neutral states destroys fleets
honoards open cties-all II II benefits
Eueland. This brutal national egoisn
ct England rests upon her ancient the,
DRY Of the balance OF power OF the
Continental states, no one OF them
shall win supremacy over the others
one shah grow strong enough to b,
eoie to face the British tyranny.
Darwin established some eighty years
ago the principle Of insular isolation
showing how species of animals on isl,
ands developed specific and peculiar
characteristics, though descended from
spscies on the mainland. These SAM
influences Of iaBular selection, due e
ths geographical isolation OF England
ara responsible for the development o
this British national egoism. Many o
hn np hn iio,