The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-08-14

Jungle. or is organized efficiency impersonal.
wholly non-moral in any familiar meaning Of
the word. and remorseless in It's operations.
the last word OF human attainmentg Has
state been evolved far beyond any political
society hitherto known that IL is indeed law
unto itself and a law-giver to the world?
Whatever may have been true OF nations in
the past. OF other nations now, may I'M
perial state OF this new and highest type abjure
covenants. and eontemn the restraints that
other nations have confidently expected one
another 10 regard7
In my judgment the most significant thing
that has happened within these twelve months
since the conflict began Is the hating and I'M
willing. but unmstakable answer to these
questions. II is an answer profoundly different
from that which would have been made year
ago. Men are saying: These questions. so
put. are academic. Our questions should ask
not may. but can Whatever our convictions,
whatever our ideals. whatever our notions Of
right and wrong, our view OF what ought TO be
must embrace our sober Judgment Of our power
20 put ou' ideals into concrete realization, to
back up our contentious 70 set bounds to the
actual achievement Of any Power which pro-
claims that the absolute state must dominate
the earth, oisregsrdfuI Of considerations pur-
porting 20 have a higher warrant than ts own
WILL"
This practical answer has taken shape in the
minds OF practical men In the neutral nations
well as In England and In France. because
the progress OF the war 80 Tar has demon
strated two things which, n year ago, we're not
believed outside OF Germany. One OF these
things IS that millions OF human beings actu-
ally uphold the absolute state, and are ready
10 live for IL or 20 die for IL fate may decree.
The other fact Is Tat these millions OF thor
oughly convinced men have made themselves
the most formidable lighting machine that
has been seen In action.
These facts create a practical situation.
What would "a avail n all the rest OF the
world should believe that nations, like lndi-
yiduals. should keep their word and fulfil their
contracts. that there are principles OF right
and wrong which are imposed upon man by
conditions that not even knEs or pariaments
can make or unmako % the rest OF the world
could not prevent the absolute state from i'm
posing its yoke upon the human race or upon
the supposedly civilized part OF ~
What does u avail 20 talk peace n tho right
OF conquest is asserted BY Power that Q.
strong enough % conquer? Obviously. one OF
two things must be recognized and accepted
Either the dogma OF the absolute state q
sound. DO does represent the latest and thus
far highest stage ga social evolution, 10 does
supersede the older politics and older moral
files. in which case the sooner the whole world
o. brought within 70 The better for every bodJ
and FOR every legitimate interest. or 20 is false
abhorrent and the most formidable peril thai
has meuaced civilization from the beginning
On which case % 81 the duty of practical men q
confront o. b. rosOlute opposition and th'
most elective means that can be brought Il
In = word. practical men have awakened Q,
. realization that pachsts, iegaiists, rnoralists
Ideausts. must decide whether they want th'
peacs Of the lady who rode home inside th'
tiaer or the peace Of the collector who brouqh
the tiger home In cage 20 the Zoo.
Next in Significance Co this Awakening or th
mind on civilized man to the nature and -oud
lions OF the real problem that confrouts th
nations is the discovery that Germany saw u
anaIyrrd DO. arrived 40 her own solution of u
and made amazing preparations f1 act ln no
cordancc with her conclusions. long before t1
rasf of the world perceived A. af all or put In
flfth in the traveller tale that Germany ha
formulated 30 ard was working GO o. What