The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-08-26
Why Germany viii Lose.

Declaring that in the eyes Of the Unit
ed States and of all the neutral powers,
the European war at the end of its first
year is more than ever mighty struggle
which must affect the future of all man.
kind, conflict between tyranny and
freedom, between the law of conquest
ard the law of national life, the Phila-
delphia Public Ledger continues:
mo greater issues hung upon the con-
flict of Rome with Carthage of Christian
Europe. with Muslem Asia. Germany has
put forth her strength and all but over
powered her enemies. Yet it is still diff
cult to believe that victory will come to
her in the end. 1t might not be far from
the truth to say that German diplomacy
has undone in advance what German
military power might have accomplish
ed"
| This diplomacy, 1t is explained, shared
one serious defect of the German peo-
pie, the inability to comprehend any
point of view but its own. 1t assumed
that Belgium would offer no resistance
when invaded, that the British navy
would not venture to show itself. that
the perfectly sound strategy which con
templated crushing France first and then
Russia would meet with no serious Oh.
stacles. Moreover, it exaggerated the
weakness of other nations as indicated
by their lack of preparedness; it assum-
ed to believe that England was on the
brink of revolution, that France had lost
her national vitality, that Italy would be
Indifferent to the fate of both France
and England, that Russia would remain
an unwieldy inert mass, not to be easily
and completely conquered, perhaps, but
not to be greatly feared at the worst.
This diplomacy relied too much on the
energy of Austria Hungary, on the dis
sensions among the Balkan States. on
the ability of Turkey to make mischief
within it's sphere of waning influence.
And the climax of it's short sightedness
was revealed in its failure to anticipate
the widespread Indignation which its Gym
ical reputation of national morality by
the destruction of treaties would arouse
among the neutral nations of the world.
Believing that the right will finally pre-
vail, the Public Ledger says:
Truth is not forever on the scatfold,
nor wrong forever on the throne. The
great Hildebrand loved righteousness anc
hated iniquity, and therefore he died If
exile. He and many another learned
that rewards and punishments are moi
always impartially administered in this
imperfect world. Yet in the long run il
is the moral forces that rule. Were il
not so we should still be in the darkness
of barbarism. Against the barrier OF
the will to live all the powers of destruc'
ton beat in vain"
1t is believed that what German tri'
umph would mean has been made abso'
lutely clear. United as the German peo'
pie may be in their determination te
secure this triumph, efficient as theil
studied method of making war has prov
ed, the very terror they have created is
in itself a terrible weapon against them.
In broad sense, the fate of Belgium is
a symbol and prophecy. and as such il
has brought different nations and varl'
GUS races together to fight to what may
we'll become the last gasp of despera
ton. 1t is easy enough to understand
that no purely military analysis OF the
results Of the first year OF war can solve
the riddle which the nations Of Europe
are now facing. 1t must be admitted by
any intelligent observer that Germany
blow was delivered with impressive re
suits. The answering blow was slow If
coming and it seemed to have less force
behind it, but it is believed to have land
ed on vital spot and that there is behine
it reserved energy for indefinite repeti
tions Admitting that the world is rulee
by ideas, it is not believed that the Ger
man idea can long dictate the course O.
civilization. The reason for this disbelie
is based upon the fact that the German
cause is based upon fallacy, and in thu
history of the world no fallacy has eve
achieved any thing more than Temporal,
conquest over Observation-Disclosures Jour
nal.