Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-08-12
A Real Danger
(From the New York Tribune.)

war and will exercise a controlling
influence. They hope. they even be-
lieve that the British. French and
Russian people will overbear the
statesmen and force that inconclu-
sive peace which is the last hope Of
IGermany>in the present conflict This
is the extent of German ambition at
the present time.
We in America will do we'll TO
recognize how completely the present
situation resembles that of the
Southern Confederacy at the end of
the first or second year of the Civil
War. But any peace then meant the
release of the South and the destruc-
ton of the Union. Any peace now
means the absolute supremacy OF
Germany in Europe. Therefore the
allies can no more make peace than
could the north. But as southern
influences attempted TO persuade the
portion of the North which was
weary of war to labor for peace, so
the Germans are now endeavoring TO
exercise a similar influence upon the
people of the nations which are al
lied against them.
Such campaign is bound to fail.
just as did that of the South. be-
cause the mass of the people in
France, Italy and Great Britain are
not less alert to the real situation
than were those of the north half a
century ago Yet it is perfectly pat
ent how much real assistance to the
German manipulation would come
from any attempt of President Will
son to suggest mediation at this time.
II would give German agents ain
France and in Great Britain a u e.
mendous advantage, which they
would use to the uttermost.
No one will imagine that Mr.. Will
son would deliberately seek to con-
tribute to such an unneutral end. Ma
one who knows him or his view Of
his own duties would dream of his
interfering save in honest and hon.
orable effort to aid in ending carnage
and restoring peace. But the fac
remains that any Intervention now
would be nothing more nor less thar
a invaluable addition to the stock II
trade of German diplomacy and in
trigue at this time Hence every
American must earnestly trust tina
Mr.. Wilson will not be misled Of
loverpersuaded.
The Great War in Europe is onl.
beginning. It has proceeded no far
Their than the Civil War after Secon'
Manassas. We are still in the Ger
man phase as we were then in thu
Confederate phase. II may take tw'
or three years to emerge from tn
German phase but until there is
some evidence that Germany's enc
mics believe she can win, until Their
lis some tangible evidence that thei
will to conquer has departed, Their
can be no wisdom in Intervention.
Peace today would give German.
Belgium, however the terms were ar
ranged. II would dispose Of Franc
as a great power. It would meal
that all the things that Germany ha
done in the name of Kultur and b.
the means of "terribleness" had beel
justified by achievement. II would es
tablish the doctrine that treaties ar
but scraps of paper and crimes sucl
as the Lusitania massacre are profit
able. Any American contribution t
such peace would be a contribu
ton to the ratification and establish
, ing of these ideas. On the mora
} side any such contf ibution would b
the denial of all that America ha
meant to mankind and TO herself j
: her long history.
Peace is a thing wholly remote Il
, day. The conditions of peace are ye
b to be written on the battlefelds c
the next two years. The desire 70
peace on present conditions exist
only with the nation which made tn
, present war to attain certain end
, and has now attained all of ther
that are attainble in the present cor
. fiict. President Wilson could onl
contribute to German advantage
advocating such a peace BY such az
% voracy he would injure his owl
b country in the eyes of all save III
! German nation. He would at the mo.
only aid in making a truce whic
, would be the prelude to a new battl
, for world empire or downfall" an
he would arrive only as the last all
= of Germany.
p Since these are the present cond
b lions there can be no thought of an
b, action on the part of the Unite
! States. However much Mr.. Wilso
, and his fellow citizens may long
e. see the end of strife and the termiI
e alton of the horrors Of the most te
{ rible of all wars, there is no oppo
tunity now for service to real pea'
S and there is a grave danger that NJ
= wise and ill-timed action now ma
e injure the cause and eliminate II
e possibility Of useful mediation her
E after.