The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-07-29

by blockade or non-intercourse the food
supply of a large nation to the point of
starvation, or even of great distress, al
though the nation has been in the habit
of importing considerable fraction of
its food supply. An intelligent popula-
ton will make many economies in its
food, abstain from superfuities, raise
more food from its soil, use grains for
food instead of drinks, and buy food
from neutral countries as long as its
hard money holds out. Any large coun-
try which has a long seaboard, or neu-
trail neighbors, can probably prevent its
non-combatant population from suffering
severely from want of food or cloth
ing while at war. This would not be
true of the districts in which actual
fighting takes place, or over which ar
mics pass, for in the regions of actual
battle modern warfare is terribly des-
tructive-as Belgium, northern France,
Poland and Serbia know.
A manufacturing people whose com
merclal vessels are driven off the seas
will, of course, suffer the loss of such
raw materials of its industries as habit
ually came to its overseas in its own
bottoms-a loss mitigated, however, by
the receipt of some raw materials from
ment of its productive industries will, in
the long run, greatly diminish its powers
of resistance in war, but much time may
be needed for the full development of
this serious disability.
Because of the great costliness of the
artillery, munitions of war, and means
of transportation used in the present
war, the borrowings of all the combat
ant nations are heavy beyond any pre-
cedent; SO that already all the ma tions IN
volved have been compelled to raise the
rates of interest on the immense loans
they have put upon the market. The
burdens thus being prepared for the
coming generations in the belligerent ma
tons will involve very high rates of tax
alton in all the countries now at war. 1T
these burdens continue to accumulate for
two or three years more, no tinancier,
however experienced and far-seeing,
can imagine today how the resulting ma
tional loans are to be paid, or how the
burden of taxation necessary to pay the
interest on them can be borne, or how
the indemnities probably to be exacted
can be paid within any reasonable period
by the defeated nation or nations.
1t follows from these established facts
that small nation-a nation of not
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have no Independent existence in Europe
except as a member of federation of
States having similar habits, tendencies
and hopes, and united in an offensive and
defensive alliance, or under guarantees
given by group of strong and trust
worthy nations. The firm establishment
of several such declarations, or the CIV
ing of such guarantees by group of
powerful and faith-keeping nations ought
to be one OF the outcomes of the war OF
1914 Is. Unless some such arrangement
is reached, no small State will be safe
from conquest and absorption by any
strong, aggressive military power which
coverts it-not even if it's people live
chiefly by mining and manufacturing, as
the Belgians did.
| The small States, being very deter
mined to exist and to obtain their natural
or historical racial boundaries, the prob
lem of permanent or any durable peace
in Europe resolves itself into this: How
can the small or smaller nations be pro-
tected from attack by some larger nation
which believes that might makes right
and is mighty in industries, commerce,
finance and the military and naval arts?
The experience gained during the past
year proves that there is but one effec-
tive protection against such power,
namely, firm league of other powers
not necessarily numerous which togeth
er are stronger in industries, commerce,
finance and the military and naval arts
than the aggressive and ambitious ma
ton which heartily believes in it's own
1nvincibility, and cherishes the ambition
to conquer and possess.
Such league is the present combina-
ton of Great Britain, France, Russia,
Italy and Japan against the aggressive
central monarchies and Turkey; but this
combination was not formed deliberately
and with conscious purpose to protect
small States, to satisfy natural national
aspirations and to make durable peace
possible by removing both fear of inva-
sion and fear of the cutting off of over
seas food and raw materials. In spite
of the lack OF an explicit and compre-
hensive purpose to attain these wise and
precious ends, the solidity of the alliance
during year of stupendous efforts to
resist military aggression on the part of
Germany and Austro Hungary certainly
affords good promise of success for a
somewhat larger league, in which all the
European nations-so like the Scan
dinavian and the Balkan, by representa-
ton in groups-and the United States
should be included. Such league would
have to act through distinct and per-
manent council or commission, which
would not serve arbitrary power, or any
peculiar national interest, and would not
in the least resemble the Concert of
Europe" or any of the disastrous spec
ial conferences of diplomatists and minis.
tiers for foreign affairs called after wars
since that Of 1901 to "settle" the
questions the wars raised.
The experience of the past twelve
months proves that such league coulc
prevent any nation which disobeyel its
orders from making use of the oceans,
and from occupying the territory of any
other nation. Reduction of ornaments,
J diminution Of taxation, and durable peace
would ensue, so soon as general conf
dence was established that the league
: would fairly administer international
justice, and that its military and nava
forces were ready and effective. Its
function would be limited to the proven.
ton and punishment of violations of in
: ternational agreements, or in other
, words to the enforcement of treaty OBJ.
/ legations, until new treaties were made.
The present alliance is of good prom
Use in three important respects-its mem
bers refuse to make any separate peace,
they cooperate cordially and Efficient
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