Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-03
DIFFICULT TO REMAIN NEUTRAL,
WHEN ONE THINKS or BEICI,r,,

1T is difficult 20 maintain a neutro,
mind when one thinks of belgium" said
Dr. Alderman, and in after-years her
desolation and her anguish will plague
all honest Germans
The ultimate causes OF tho u,ar" u .
continued, lie in the fact that Eurone
is Europe. limited in her territory. of
oinereht ana antagonizing racial In
stincts and contemning the idealism
OF politics, believing in n doctrine OF
rorce and having faith In armaments -
Ana again, DR.. Alderman continued
thc war owes its origin to Bismarck
and Napoleon. TO the theft Of Schles-
wig-Holstein from Denmark and the
taxing OF Alsace and Lorraine from
France. 1t lies in the logic OF history
There are economic causes also tn no
considered, and DR.. Alderman expressed
the belief that II there were no pro-
tcctive tariff there would have been no
war.
In discussing the possible positions
or the Deiliserents after the war. DR..
Alderman said that England was in the
greatest peril of all, for she Is but n
lonely island girt with a ribbon OF
sea. prey to all II her naval strength
be destroyed
Dreams of world empire, DR.. Alder
man SAID, are az archaic as mastodons.
an iatioiis except Germany have at
tempted their realization, and now Ger
many Is embarked upon the schema NJ
ancient Rome. He would not have Ger
many destroyed, but expressed desire
that her efficiency be mixed with m
mility, leaving her Intact at the cnd
ana again n leader in the inspiration
OF Iile world. lie thought that England
ought 10 nave entered the war even
If Belgium's neutrality had nor heen
violated, Tor IT was a question whether
England would be England still. or oc.
cupy an humble position like that of
Holland
The war will not emo quickly" said
Dr: Aluerman' 1T will end when the
British heet is destroyed or Ger,nanv's
power Is destroyed by economic ex
haustlon lie had believed that the
end would come soon, but now no
thought the end to be beyond fore
telling, beyond the power Of prophecy.
But when the war shall have ended
he hoped there would be n congress
| of the nations. In which common sense
and mutual sympathy would hold sway.
and in' which there would be no desire
for national ACKNOWLEDGMENT. And
the hnal amends To be mutually made
would be the return of Alsace and\ Ior-
raine to France, the settlement of the
SlaV question and the liberation OF Po-
land.
In conclusion Or. Alderman said thai
the eyes of the world arc on America.
for nope lies here, and contentment
and the right to live and work In
peace, and here the Ideals, not of Bis
marck and Napoleon, but OF Washing
ton and Jefferson, are those which the
people seek.
The chief lesson Of the war, DR.. AL
| derman said. Is not preparedness, but
! a grim determination not to be pre-
occMpied with war. But it would be
foolish. he thought. not to develop THE
nations military resources. especially
the navy. And TO this end he
recommended the Swiss method,
saying that Switzerland, though
she threw 100000 troops In a
week around her borders was the most
unmilitaristic nation In the world.
"We should not be preoccupied with
war, for democracy thinks of some
thing else. and In the Germanic sense. ia
| always unprenared for war. And IL tho
German philosophy should over obtain
In America. then God held the world
Our greatness must be measured by our
service to mankind"