The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-05-27

qUences 81 German victory. All our
history, from Lexington to 1915. rep
resents the conviction that force does
not make right. nor military power
justice. Yet the essence Of the Ger.
man idea is force, hight, power.
The Napoleonic idea could not en-
dure. II was always bound 10 fall be-
cause il was based upon military
power il was based upon the ability
10 repeal even the commonest of the
rules Of international right by brute
force. True, Napoleon's crimes were
small beside those Of William II. His
execution Of the Duke Of Enghien
shook Europe, but il is a mere detail
when compared with the massacre Of
the Lusitania. But for Americans
quite as much as Europeans il was
essential that the Napoleonic idea
should not prevail. Il threatened us
as it threatened all others. Precisely
the same thing is true Of the German
idea.
What we are now facing is some
thing more than a contest between
rival powers. 1t was that when
France and Prussia were at war in
1870. II is more than a quarrel over
commerce or provinces. 1t is a fight |
to preserve the individuality of ma
tons. II is a battle TO save Europe |
from being German, as the Napoleonic
wars became contest TO save Europe |
from French domination. II Germany |
is beaten we shall have many races
freed, consolidated, established. We |
shall have the rights Of little states
protected and guaranteed. Belgium,
Serbia, Rumania, Greece, Bulgaria
from all of these will be removed the
menace which the German idea con-
stituted. Subject races in Austria will
be enfranchised if not assured separ-
ate existence.
But if Germany wins Serbia, Bel
GUM, tomorrow Holland, will be ex-
tinguished. More Frenchmen will be-
come the subjects of the Kaiser; Ital-
ans will be condemned to Austrian
rule. All over Europe the principle Of
will be violated and the
inherent right of men TO determine
heir own land and language denied. S
look at the consequence of German !
yictory, and no American can hesitate
o hope for German defeat, for I
American reasons. Our own cause is G
hat of the Allies. Il
The entrance of Italy is in fact the
risis in the Great War, and we are f
living through one of the great per- t
DDS in human history. Whatever be t
he immediate ends of the Italian u
eople, however selfish the incidental. t
ccasion of the declaration of war, it f
viii remain landmark in history be- S
ause it will promise as did the en- a
rance of Austria intothe Napoeonic G
trife century ago, the beginning Of c
he end of great dream founded up e
n injustice, upon the repeal of all
nat civilization and religion have won h
Or the world in centuries b
And in such struggle Italy belongs :
18th the liberal powers All her .
olendid history in the last century, r
Il the magnificent heroism of her
atriots who died on Hapsburg scat
lids, all that Mazzini and Garibaldi
ean to mankind would be repudiated
Y Italy if she did not to-day stand
it'll those nations who are resuming
lie battle for liberty, fought a CEN
Try ago against Napoleon and now
ling fought against the Kaiser.
And Italy should carry with her
merican wishes for success. Our
omen and children have been sacri-
ed to German necessity, our dead
I'VE been scattered over the seas and
Nv float with the tides because, hap
IS and helpless, American women
ID children stood between Germany
ID her purpose This is what the
erman idea means. Italy has elected
e only course that could avail to -
We her from the German peril. She
Il fight for civilization. Will Ger n
any insist that all nations follow?
i'll she recognize that though our
ms are not yet enlisted our hearts
e with her enemies, not because we
te Germans, but because the things
day called German are the mega
n Of all for which America stands :?
New York Tribune.
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