Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-31
Now IL Ever?

Diplomatic relations of the United
States with the Imperial German
Government become more unsatis-
factory With each exchange Of papers
Of diplomacy and it is no, impossible
that all these papers may ultimately
result in nothing better than a status
Of war. II war comes sickly senti-
ment will be replaced with gruesome
fact and the peace at any cost"
Americans will be az eager for
American victory as the opponents Of
American rnilitarisn, if such there be.
Americans have no desire for war
with Germany or any other European
nation; our cosmopolitan citizenry
breeds no race hatred and as a nation
we have all the land and all the
wealth We need. Our problems are
economical and social; problems Of
distribution and social justice. We
have no primary quarrel with neigh
boring or far distant governments
Why. then. should ne have war with
Germany and, IL it comes, in what
spirit shall we accept it?
II our relation. with Germany be-
come 80 unhappily strained as to re-
suit in an open break and hostile
declarations, it must be Acknowledged
that conditions brought about by the
European quarrel initiated the
trouble. Were Germany not at war
with her neighbors, We would be
having no exchange Of near ultimate
with her. The great national and
human fault. therefore, would lie not
It Columbias door but within the
national halls Of Europe and in Ger.
man halls in particular. A peace
loving citizen Of our acquaintance
says:
III We are ever to have war with
Germany. let US have it now when
our forces can be allied with other
forces hostile to Germany which have
helped shape the contributing causes
Of our unfortunate misunderstand-
ings with the Imperial Government
Germany could never reach our soil
through the allied lines Of the Italian
French. American and English fleets;
our entry into the conflict might
hasten the end which can hardly re-
suit in much permanent advantage
to any OF the warning factions; and q
quarrel thrust upon us would be
argued with the material aid Of ma
tionS primarily interested. We are
now not so much in danger from
German invasion as from German
evasion. setting the date Of final set
Element ahead to a time to suit Ger
man military convenience.
Let an ultimatum be an ultima
tum, lest the peaceful United States
hnd itself at some future time in
contest at arms with Germany
fighting single handed for causes al
most lost to sight. We are entitled
TO immunity from European quarrels
and resulting carnage; II we cannot
have such immunity. let US deter
mine the fact at once to the end that
nilitarism may be finished and steel
and iron hereafter used for the manu-
faeture Of steam boilers and machin-
GGy Iu6tS2u VI W0
eager for peace. but il we must have
q German war let US Nave 1t when
We can help and be helped"
Our friend expresses largely pre-
vailing sentiment among our people,
we have reason to believe. but they
forget that Germany. like other great
powers Of Europe. is exhausting her
self and sickening her people with
war To declare war upon Germany
at this time for almost any conceiv-
able offence would seem to most
Americans like going in to crush a
possible enemy when she is hard
pressed. We can better afford to be
generous. tolerant and long suffering
at this time than under other cond!-
tiens. German resources are un.
equal 70 our own and her genius for
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