The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-08-14

ever verdict the future historian may pass upon
other contentious that ill the rainbow of offi-
cial books which the warning nations have be-
slowed upon the world in justification OF their
behavior. there will be no dissent from the
judgment that Germany planned the war. man
ufactured IT, and delivered the goods. In the
light OF all that has happened since July 81
year ago. the proposition that either England
or Russia was prepared for war has become
supremacy ridiculous. They were not prepared
Tor war then, they are not prepared for II now,
after all the tremendous efforts that they have
put forth since the beginning OF hostilities. II
either nation had been even half as well pre-
pared for war as Germany was, there would
have been no war.
The entire series Of events from the Invasion
Of Belgium until the present moment dlsposes
once and for all Of the preposterous argument
that military preparedness, In and Of Itself, 10
a menace TO peace. II is the preparedness Of
the outlaw, the nation that intends to make
war, that 10 menace. IL England had been
prepared. even to such an extent as Switzer-
land was prepared. no German soldier would
have set foot on Belgian soil. In this sense
only, and not in the sense In which Germany
has asserted. Great Britain may be held TO be
morally responsible for this unspeakable calam-
ity. Great Britain had plenty OF warning She
drifted on, unthinking. unprepared.
Now. At last. the nations that are arrayed
against Germany are awake and thinking. al
though. because OF the magnitude OF the task
they are by no means yet ready 20 act with
full effectiveness In defense Of that kind Of
state and liberty. The neutral nations also are
awake. and are beginning TO accept the
certain conclusion that they likewise must be
prepared. But how prepared A third great
practical question presents itself to the world
today IN this form.
Doubtless there will be much failure 70 IN.
derstaud the true character Of Germanys pre-.
parednoss. Doubtless many wrong differences
win be drawn. There will be confusion Of
mind in governmental circles. as we'll as among
the masses OF earnest men. But little by little
tho facts viii stand ont iu relief. they viii be
grasped by the more intelligent leaders Of pub
lc opinion and the world will see that here. as
in the matter OF preparing or not preparing at
ALL a choice OF tremendous Importance must be
made.
Tie Industrial revolution ~ century and a
half ago began in world politically organized
under mluarCiiCHl forms. Coal steam and
machinery Transformed that 0rld. they more
than transformed 10. they reconstructed a. I'm.
mpnso forces of liberalization we're set at work
The middle classes % an older Time whose
political power. although not negligible. was not
adequate Co cope with the l1ud.uuuinE arts
toCracy. became. through wealth and capital
ownership, politically ascendant With theft
power came "a i1.VFsr f1irc philosophy and
General acceptance Great Britain and lr
America of The teaching That the functions OF
government should Doc few and simple: that
business should ho Oct alone. that Individual
. enterprise should have the frcoHt opportunity
Under these condition.. DO was held. the world
would prosper nightly end mako progress.
Quite naturally. certain further iniererc,
alr drawn. 10 was that n nation r1 ORGANIZED
ON the principle OF IudisiduliIstlc liberty viii
, "a government relatively weak. and not NEEDLE
. some. was q stronEer nation than one authorl
, frfIvrIr ruled cay fhr Inference was natural
The only ohrarvntirr8I comparisons prsaitt
were between these new. marvci0uslv busy
rich. Industrial nations and tuc aufhnritatvcll
, governed nations of au earlier time in uhlcl
, property 'u land and aristocrltc privilege wcr
Z frurrmrir important. The Socialists alrn
b urged That perhaps men we're attribIting spec