TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1915-01-08

other power for access to the trade
routes Of the worldf know my
Americans, and such questions strike
me a. broadly humorous.
As to Militarism.
in this paper 1 have no other aim
than 20 set the American il the place
Of the German M~ilitarism. which the
German regards as only . somewhat
offensive name for his necessary pre-
pafation 10 repel very real dangers.
o legitimate measure Of self-defenses
has not hampered Germany a 1.-THE
as much as she was hampered in the
past, when she was not in a position
to defend herself. Militarism is UNI
doubtedly a burden, but II has not
prevented Germany from c~ultiyating
successfully the sciences and arts, %
the great benefit OF humanity; from
initiating and carrying out social
reforms which insure to all classes
OF her population an unusual Measure
OF wcll-being; from developing her
internal resources and building up
her foreign commerce in a way that
has made her a rich nation. Militar-
ism may be a crushing burden,
abstractly considered, but il has not
crushed Germany, and, 10 the Ger
man, that IS a consideration which
deserves to be weighed.
Eve are all influenced by the con-
slant repetition OF a catch-word.
Americans have heard so much OF
German militarism, largely from GER
tain foreign sources. that it would be
surprising if some of them were not
deluded into believing that Germany
is the only European nation with a
large army. Yet Russia has a larger
army, and has for years been using
it for aggression. France, with a
much smaller population than Ger
many, has an army approximately
the same size, and, hence, may, with
much greater justice than Germany,
be accused of militarism.
"And Great Britain has the exact
equivalent OF an immense army-she
has a colossal fleet, which she keeps
up at an enormous expense to her.
self, and which she increases from
time 10 time, with the avowed pur-
pose of allowing no nation to dispute
with her the control Of the sea, that
great common highway of the world,
over which all may pass. but which
no nation may possess. How formid-
able this equivalent for a great army
may be 10 other nations has been
made clear in the present crisis.
There is no nation in Europe that
can, without asking Kngland's per-
mission, sail into the Atlantic, pass
the Straits Of Gibraltar, make use Of
the Mediterranean, or reach Asia
by way of the Suez Canal The pub
lie highway has by a single nation
been fenced in and made private
property.
"Navalism" of the British.
&c is a pity that the word naval
ism is not good English, for that
which it exactly describes has been
peculiarly English for a century.
Nayalism can be a nor serious
menace than militarism, for the latter
threatens chiefly ones more inn
mediate ~neighbors. Navalism holds
a threat oyer every nation on the
face Of the globe.
I'VE are %neutrals, but we have a
right to know the truth about Gem
trail Europe. 1t is not right that we
should be kept in ignorance, or led,
through Misrepresentation, to con-
denim in haste nations, with which we
stand in friendly relations. When we
see a great nation of some seventy
millions, a nation highly civilized,
wealthy and cultivated, a nation we'll
that it can prosper as few
others, if it be allowed t 0 exercise
its industries in peace-when we see
such a nation go to wa against
powerful odds, risking its very exist
in the struggle. we must be
shallow, indeed, if we suppose thar
its whole population, a naturally
peaceable and orderly population, has
either gone mad or lapsed into bar
barism. We must stand before an
unsolved problem until we attain to
information and comprehension.
Let the American forget the con-
ditions under which he himself lives.
Let him think himself into the situa-
ton of the German. Then let him ask
himself what under the circum-
stances, he would doG