Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-22
Taking the Sword

wolves principles of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances Of detail; principles
which lift il out Of the class Of ordi-
nary subjects Of diplomatic discussion
or of international controversy.
The Government Of the
United States is eontendins for some.
thing much greater than mere rights
Of property or privileges Of COM
meree. It is eontending for nothing
less high and sacred than the rights
Of humanity, which every government
heners itself in respecting, and which
no government is justified in resisnins
on behalf Of those under its care and
autherity.-Presdent Wi!s.on to Ger.
many.
The disposition TO sink passenger
ships carrying the subjects of friend
~ as we'll as enemy nations as indi-
Gated by repeated and desperate at
tempt, seems 10 come under the same
proposition. If gunman shot al us
from behind a wall as we passed in
the common highway. and then, dis
covering tina, he had missed us.
jumped out and chased Us repeatedly
blazing away at Us. We should think
he ought to be restained as an out
law. That is precisely the position
before the world in which Germany
has deliberately placed herself in
spite Of every friendly protest and
suggestion.
Until she disavows this last outrage,
Germany stands convicted as a das.
tardly outlaw. one who would stab a
friend il the back because he showed
friendship also for an enemy of Ger.
many. At no other stage in the
worlds history would nation have
accepted such an insult and unfor-
giveable outrage upon its friendship
and honor without instant and unmis-
takeable challenge.
Had either one of the nations now
engaged in war had one-hundredth
part the just cause for the war that
the United States now has against
Germany. there would not, today he
heard the query, Who started tn.
war;"
Today the world has the spectacle
Of great and powerful nation-a
people whose resources and possible
war Development are almost beyond
estimate. If not quite-giving a griev-
ouely offending nation the benefit of
every doubt. judicially weighing every
circumstance for and against the Of
fender. to!erating insult upon subter-
fuge. granting time and offering loop
holes for graceful and honorable re-
traction. and all in the spirit and
words Of friendship and brotherhood.
The American people, cosmopoiite
though they are feel their mission in
world affairs. Their confidence that
in any war they would win in time. is
supreme. But they do not want war.
They we'll know that it costs far more
than 1t returns. They want peace
ana they want all the world from
which they are come. to enjoy it.
They would lead by example toward
TINT end
that take the sword shall perish ~
the sword" They hesitate to take
the sword although half dozen other
great nations are sword mad.
America is suffering as a commun-
ity suffers when citizen runs amuck.
She would lead Germany out to the
light if the obsession for world-domi-
nation is not too deep seated.
A people that have been taught and
have lived preparation for war for
generation, are not easily impressed
with the rights Of others that stand
in the way. Germany is undoubtedly
confident of her ability to make the
whele world better to live in, if she
can but win this war She, too. feels
her mission and believes she is a tool
in the great scheme of bringing a
human level. She may be right, but
we cannot see it that way. If Ger
many should win. the whole of Europe
would at once feel the same iron hand
that has worked marvels in civic
proeaems II the German empire.
Anarchy and revolution would be
crushed as the serpent dies under the
heel. Multiple doctrines and schemes
and hopes would be relentlessly swept
from the path of military despotism.
But a decisive win" seems impos-
sible and the world is faced by the
prospect Of an exhausted Europe, the
best Of civilization helpless before the
ambitions and possible conceptions of
long subdued hordes-anarchy, revo-
buttons. pestilence. famine.
That is a gruesome forecast, but it
is the price Of war. the result of gen.
H.