The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-01-06
WAR WITH wHOMY

We are divided into at least FIVE
factions in this country on the sub
ject Of national defense. There are
those who want no preparedness, those
who want only little, those who are
satisfied with what we have at pres
ent, those who favor reasonable in
crease, and those who would employ
practically all Of our men and money
10 that end.
With a great many Of us in favor of
war, there is almost as much disagree
ment on that subject. When one ele-
ment says war, it means war with
Mexico. Remembering Belgium, the
Lusitania and the Ancona, another
wants war with Germany and Aus
tria. Recalling the violation OF our
rights at sea, another becomes belli-
cose only when 1t contemplates Great
Britain. Mindful chiefly Of Armenia,
still another would move against Tur-
key. While we have at present no
open advocacy Of hostilltes with Rus
STA and Japan, many Americans, when
they see red, think only Of the Gar
and the Mikado.
Even II the provocation in these
cases were greater, it would be a
physical impossibility for the United
States to go to war with all Of the
nations mentioned. To do so, except
in the case of Mexico, would be to
fight on both sides Of the greatest Of
conflicts. Neither glory nor profit
could come to us as result Of such
a worldwide Donnybrook.
We have racial and social sympa-
thies for or antipathies to every one
of the belligerents. on grounds Of
humanity we rage against the coun-
tries that massacre defenseless Deo-
pies, lay waste beautiful cities and
send passenger steamships to the Uot-
tom without warning. For our inter-
rupted commerce and the indignities
inflicted upon our flag by spurious
blockades we demand redress and
threaten reprisal.
Yet II we had at hand the greatest
armament that the craziest Of our jim
goes has proposed and were a unit in
favor Of war with somebody, a ques-
tion presenting itself with staggering
force would be: War with whomf
Grievous as the wrongs inflicted up
on us have been, punishments and pen
alties are not easily assessed. We
have suffered at the hands Of Great
Britain, but we cannot make war mp
on Great Britain without assaiingI
France and Belgium and assisting
Turkey, Germany and Austria. We
have serious controversies with Ger
many and Austria, but we cannot go
to war with them without in effect
becoming an ally Of Great Britain,
Japan and Russia. If we fight the
Turk, we fight for Russia.
This is a situation that has not es-
capped the attention Of European dip |
loildtN' W hilc lhNN VIII bt Ndlfl hl /
not to go to extreme lengths with the
United States, they know as well as
our own statesmen do that the time
for n final adjustment Of accounts On
this side Of the water is not now.
They know also that the score they
are running mp win have to he 7et-
tied some day to the last farthing.
We are to be saved from this war
evidently, because we have wanted tc"'
many wars at once. There is alwl"s
time enough for war. II war becomes /
necessary, and one Of tho er~cst SIGNS
that the time has not arrived ond the |
necessity not arisen. we should say, |
is that the American people are in |
no sort Of agreement on the noint |
War with whom New York World |