TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1915-02-13
SNOBBERY IN EXCELCTS.

A leahct has Just been sent to me entitled "3riah American War
Relief Fund, appealing Tor Rtna Of clothing and comforts" and eaah 10
bo turned into comforts for British soldiers and sailors IN active service
There IL, too, a ebegramm and letter from Lord Kitchener thanking
The "womn Of America for gifts already received and describing exactly
Inc articles wanted
The head Of this precious committee Is Lady Hsbati Mrs Ralph
Sanger Il the secretary, who writes from 200 fifth Avenue, New York
Mr. Henry Whtehoase Is the treasurer Mrs J. !. Morgan, JE, lends her
name a an ordinary member and 90 does hr Moses Taylor ryne, and the
last name on the list is Mr. ~ Stuart WoHley.
The fund Is naturally under the patronage Of the presidents Of the st.
Georges Society and the s. Andrews Society and so forth
The whole thing reeks Of snobbery and one would pot Il aside with Al
ahHg Of the shoulders we're i not for the amusement that can be got out
First Of ALL think Of the War Minister Of the richest country in the
world admitting that his soldiers want "Noolen socks, sizes 10 or III, and
undeshhts and undorirawers sweaters, etc"
Lord Kitchener received, ! believe, fifty thousand pounds or a quarter
of a million dollars for bis distinguished services" in beating half-armedI
negroes in the soudan and in Decorating the grave Of Mahdi why shouldn't
he subscribe to the fund and help to elohe his shiverng soldiers?
There are not five hundred thousand British soldiers yet at the front
while there are five hundred thousand homeless Belgian women and children
wanting help und seven hundred and fifty thousand starving Servian
peasants Rich England begging esoeks for her soldiers" from charity while
her last years bill for champagne alone would provide wooden underwear
for all her forces for the next three years
"The men from Great Britain to quote from this precious cirlular
aare fighting not only for their own existence and to restore Belgium, but
against the domination Of miitarism' Throughout the world" AS Great
Britain spends sixty per cent more per head Of population on armaments|
than any other country and has fought more wars in the last twenty-five
years than any other two countries put together, one would like Mr.. Pyue'
or Mr. Richard Harding Davis to explain what they mean by "the
domination Of miitansma
But this circular reaches easily to epic heights; ii talks Of "the mother
country : = engaged in this great contest for freedom" Does It'll
meen freedom for the three hundred millions Of Hindus or for the millions
Of feIaheen in Egypt or the negro hordes in the soudan. whom Gladstone
once described as rightly struggling to be fee?" Apparently not.
Can the circular refer to the millions Of workingmen in Great Britain
who have no vote in their own country which, almost alone in Europe. still
bases its franchise on a property qualification; or does it refer to teI
thousands Of Brtons who are stl sent to prison every year for petty debts7
Apparently not.
Can it be that "He great contest for freedom" is to prevent the
domination Of Britain over every sea and ocean in the world? Perhaps
Messrs Pne and Richard Harding Davis will explain what they do mean
BY "the domination Of mltansm7 and "He great contest for freedom?
Everyone knows that Great Britain is wagfng this wal not for free
dom" which she withholds from her own children, and which she mas with
held for a century from the Irish people, not against "Me domination off
niitarsm", for she boasts Of being the greatest despot in the world; nor
for Begum-what is she to Heeuba or Hecuba to her?-but simply and
solely to destroy the industrial competition Of Germany and to annex as
much as she can Of Gemanys trade and commerce. Did not Mr.. Wells
before the war expressly admit this? He wrote:
I'VE in Great Britain are now intensely jealous of Germany. wei
are intensely Jealous Of Germany not only because the Germans outnumberI
us, and have a much larger and more diversified country than ours. and EaI
in the very heart and body Of Europe, but because in the last hundred years
while we have fed on pattudes and vanity, they have had the energy andI
humility to develop a splendid system Of national education, to toll atI
science and art and literature, to develop social organization, to master and
our methods Of business and industry, and to chamber above as mil
the scale Of civilization This has Inundated and irrtated rather than
chastened us"
How will Mr.. Richard Harding Davis answer this?
This delightful circular proceeds to tell Americans that they have teI
same language as the English and goes on; "our traditions, standards
and ideals are the same" Are they indeed? We had thought tbatI
which certainly does not exist and is not even desired BY Great Britain
we have been taught TO believe that Americans based their manhood onI
labor and despsed parasites and aristocrahe loafers more even than corner
But perhaps we have been mistaken.
Anyhow, this circular is sure to do good: Lady Herbert and Mr.
Richard Harding Davis, Mrs. J. T. Morgan, J, and Mr.. Moses TAYLOR Pvne
should all be congratulated on It; its nobbery is superfne and its appeal
mtainted by reason