Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-27


seems to be proceeding successfully
from tho point OF View OF the allies
should DC accompanied by some revival
OF hopes on the part of persons who
ueslre 10 see the European war con-
ciuoed AT the earliest possible moment
ihosc who Indulge these hopes arc an
parenty inspired by the idea that tho
capture OF Constantinople would have
II most important moral effect and
should IL cause countries such as italy
greece and Bulgaria to cast in their
lot with the allies, that Germany might,
AFTER some fairly decisive defeat either
In the east or In the west, decide tn sue
Tor peace Such n hope is natural, but
IL Is dithcuit TO pin much faith thereto
because whatever may be the develop
ments In public feeling in Germany. 1t
Is lclt that the Prussian military spirit
must or necessity BIO aggressive to the
last. Indeed, there is even a sense In
which the very discomfort on the mart
or the German people might make the
military party all the more desperate
IN their EFFORTS to secure victory. with
out which their ultimate downfall
would almost necessarily follow.
Hopes Seem Premature.
On the whole. therefore, and unless
economic conditions in GERMANY are
much worse than is generally believed
mere, IL would seem to be distinctly pro-
mature and probably unwisc 10 Indulge
hopes at this juncture OF an carly peace
conference. Moreover, it Is to he feared
that the difficulties OF the situation
must be seriously increased bv tho
almost complete lack OF humanitarian.
Ism displayed by the Germans through
out the war. Writing as an English
man, II Is, OF course, impossible 70
speak with an unbiased mind; hut
cannot help thinking that that sense or
justice combined II NAV so exprcsx
1t. with nv
~ characteristic OF the English and
INC american temperament. has been
; thoroughly preserved throughout tho
conflict, so that we seem to have been
ahle TO take n more detached View OF
the situation than has been the case
with Germany.
Even at this moment, when II IS evil
dcnt that Germany Is consumed wifi,
hittrcd Tor this country. no such gen
cral sentiment prevails here. The Ger
man soldier who dies for his country
Is respected every whit as much rs our
own feilows. and although there must
be few English homes now over which
there does not rest the shadow of
either actual or anticipated mourning
there is not the slightest desire for
vengeance. In the ordinary sense of the
word against the German people.
AnfnntinE Spirit OF the English.
What, however. does animate the
iceiih'S VI every EnSliShman Is
passionate desire that the principles OF
justice shall be firmly established, and
mat tho countries-Bcigium and part
of France--whch have been ruined to
satisfy the demands OF Prussian mill
tarism, shall receive complete rcstitu-
ton; and, moreover, that the restitu-
ton shall be achieved along such lines
as to afford the maximum guarantee
against Il repetition Of such AN outrage
on civilization as that which has been
committed during the last eight months
And II Is just here that we find the
greatest surprise in not noting kecner
interest and anxiety OH the part OF the
neutral nations Surely, on the basis
OF long vIcw, 1t must he more i'm
portant for the people OF the United
Statcs-cvcn On the lowest grounds
that civilization should develop on
sound and democratic lines than that this
or that particular commercial interest
should DC hampered for brief period.
Many are asking at the present time
what is the use OF international laws
made during times OF peace, If, when
the war comes, the neutral countries
are to take SO perfunctory an interest
in such concerns as that which has
been observed during the last few
months. How completely we regarded
and how utterly Germany disregarded,
these laws during the early months OF
the war is Il matter OF common know
ledge to these who have observed i'm
whore is the blaze of righteous in
dignation either on the part Of the
United states or any other country?
Principles Which Affect tho Future.
These are questions and principles
which affect not merely the circum-
stances of tie hour, but of the whole
future ard should Amerira In some
fashion not uplift its voice In protest
against acts ?f barharity throughout
this Whole Ndr, arc we to class that
country among those with whom ex-
pedicncy Is to be the national watch
word? And ye; again. 1t is impossible
not to have been struck with one aspect
of conditions in your country, which 1t
Is perfectly true has until recently ap-
piled with equal force to our own,
;i@mcly, tie manner In which our coun-
try Is honeycombcd by German infu-
ences. THIS - a condition of affairs
which. of course. has existed just as
much In this country, and we are re-
aliZng that unconsclously we have
been sacrificing high national instincts
to those OF mere wcalth-getting, along
the most cosmopolitan lines. l do not
know. Of course, how 1t will be in the
Unite'l states, but, 80 far AZ Europe
IL concerned, can conceive no greater
or moro enduring injury which Ger
many has inflicted upon its future posi-
ton as a civilized nation than the ono
which must result from the exhibition
which has been given OF national char
ac.cr. Nothing viii retrieve that dur
Ing the lifetime OF the present genera
tion unless II were TO be accomplished
by some great uprising on the part
OF the better class of German people
themselves, 40 that we felt that
throughout this struggle 1t was not
the German nation. but only one aspect
OF the country. which had been repre-
scented by the apparent determination
to have war at all costs. and to prose-
cute 1t in q manner which has horri-
fed tho whole OF Europe. There can
be no doubt that, deplorahle as the
war must have heen under my cir
cumstances. had Germany conducted 1t
along the lines consistent with q great
civilized nation, the task of peace