The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-05-21
EUR OPE IN
1870 AND 1915

Of almost every power in Europe. !
have no right to challenge France,
Russia, England, or Germany, yet ]
can, unbiased by prejudice, compare
the attitude of the nations with their
well formed program Of almost half
Of century. One thing will be con-
ceded by every well balanced mind, the
war did not drop suddenly from the
clouds because Belgium desired to
remain a free and Independent state.
Looking over history we must rather
Hsurmise that the expansive policy Of
Germany had great bearing upon
the present struggle. Have yau care
fully studied history? Frederick the
Great was the real father Of the pres
ent German polite: When Poland was
unscrupulously divided in 1772, Prus-
sia and later Germany has followed
this policy Of land grabbing at the ex-
pense Of the weaker nation; thus
Sleswigholstein, Hanover, Hessen,
Frankfort and Elsass Lorraine were
added.
II we were to visit Germany today
we would soon find that the country is
divide into the civil and military
hierarchy, whose head and heart is
the Kaiser, and the common people
tho not enslaved like the Russian serf
of former days, yet who in reality are
regulated from headquarters, the
government by nlilitarism for the peo-
! lple, a direct opposition to the policy
Of the great American emancipation,
who believed in government by the
people, for the people.
am certain some one will call me
to task for such statement, yet am
positive that hardly any newspaper is
published in Germany today, that
would dare to criticise the government
Thus it has been stated again and
again that the German nation is a
great machine, moved by the strong
arm of militarism. It is also true that
Germany is the best organized nation
| in the world; the empire has built up
a splendid over-sea trade, several
lcolonies have been foundd, thus alto
lgether Germany represents military
Esystein which # the present is threat.
/ ttisi Nv bElazae ae power il Europe
4 and perhaps will trysto dominate The
world II the scale Of war should tip II
favor of the Emperor. Still admit,
ting all this, why should we condemn
Germany for the present situation
I which in a large measure has beer
/ forced upon her?
I Germany is fighting for her very ex
4 istence among the great world powers
4 She was compelled to make her army
the most efficient in the world in ordel
to upset the balance of power il
Europe, which the other governments
especially that of the British Isles
have sought to maintain with SO mucl
concern ever since the downfall 0.
| Napoleon Bonaparte.
It seems to the unbiased mind tina
Germany has threatened the peace o
Europe not because it has been per
fecting her army and navy, but tn
other powers have with alarm seen tn
military system Of Germany grow, un
til it stands today among the leadin,
nations Of the world. All Europeal
states, small or large, have a militar
system, yet none Of the great power
has been willing to make sacrifice 0
time and money to bring their respec
tive armies to the point Of such excel
lence as has been reached by tn
German people. It is not true tina
England has persistently followed tn
policy that her navy must be as power
full as the combined navies Of all othe
/ European powers? Up to this pres
: ent struggle no power has dared t
i challenge the mistress Of the seas
: altho bitterly opposed to war, ! believ
i that it is the duty Of every sovereig
l state to maintain such military an
: naval units, as it's citizenship deem
+ needful for the proper protection Z
: their interests on land and sea; thi
. same right has been accorded to q
!. powers, hence it is unfair to condem
Germany without q cause. No on
i doubts that if the German navy hs
!; been in such a defnoralized conditiOl
i its army SO morally unfit 10 cope wit
an enemy, as Russian arms prove
. themselves in the Japanese struggl
no hue and cry would have been raise
4 in regard to the danger threatenir
i the peace Of the world, 50 far as Ge
q many was concerned.
81 no be continued)
" While Mrs. G. u. Griesinger VI
ei learning to drive her new auto Tue