The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16


German discipline. They are taught to
fear nothing so much in the world as
the Prusslan officer and the prissian
Government. Hence their so-called cour-
age in fighting against foreigners 1t Is
really n form OF fear.
I have been able to take the sinking Of
the Iusitania quite calmly. But the
reason Is that ] take u different view
Of the war from many people. From my
standpoint the war il an economic
struggle and the United States Is al
ready at war with Germany. In my
opinion this liz . w. between modei.t
business, as rertescid-d by England.
France and the United States (what we
Socialists call capltalism) AID feudalism,
rs represented by GermaLy's system,
whore landlordism and m~ilitarism still
largely dominate. And the victory of
modern business over eighteenth century
militarism thowever modernized) is abb
~Soluteiy certain.
There is only one aspect Of the situa-
ton that need trouble us. We are send
ing from $40. 600. 900 to $3.50. 900. 900 in
arms and other supplies monthly to the
allies. This Is an ormou help to
the democratic side The trouble is that
we are charging for Il. II the people #
the United states would undertake to
pay this bill during the rest OF the war.
and perhaps double our shipment of
arms and ammunition to the Allies, we
would he of tremendous service IN help
ing them TO win.
Doubtless Germany would declare war
81. us II we adopted this policy. II
would then he necessary for us to show
our seriousness and COURAGE by sending
over our small army and lending the aid
q our not very powerful fleet. This
might helm ulen Rlt nlr chief aqgiQt-
ance then, as now. would he financial.
The statement that we could not help
the Allies by entering into the war Is
one Of the most preposterous OF all the
absurd statements since the beginning
of the contest.
AZ To- the best outcome and the way to
make war impossible In the future
think nothing more promising has bean
suggested than an aggressive League Of
\rutfals at the present moment. Prob
ably every advocate of peace will agree
that the most promising practical propo-
sition after the war win be a League
of Peace. To this not only ex-President
Roosevelt and ex-Presideut Charles W.
Eliot are agreed, but also Hamilton Holt
and the paJists.
But we viii never have a League OF
Peace after tho war unless We have a
League OF Neutrals at the present time.
= IS ~ AtB'ah Nv 'lAllNlllIlk at
suments brought up daily In the press
FOR a Lea que OF Neutrals. But the
strongest OF all in my mind
has been overlooked, that n League OF
Neutrals and that alone will lead TO a
League OF Peace after the war. But as
a student OF public questions I must
make ose exceedingly important personal
reservation. The best thing that can be
done now is 10 form a League of Ned
trails. The best y Icy Immediately after
the war is To form a League of Peace
Blu. the danger Of war will never be
over unt!l the causes OF war are done
away with.
The causes OF war are economic: the
conflict Of interests between the nations
over tariffs. canals. loans and conces-
sions In backward countries like China
Turkey. Mexico. &c. So while we So
cialisr--ffyur the League of Peace and
also partial disarmament which would
probably accompany Il. We are not under
the Illusion that any such measures can
put an end TO war.