Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
WAR AND DEMOCRACY.
switzerland as n Center for n Possible
Revolutionary Moyencrt

Rumors have reached this country re-
Gently by way of Switzerland that a Re-
publican party is in process Of formation
in Germany and that IT is rapidly in
creasing in numerical strength That the
prolongation of the war will add to the
power of this organization is not i'm
probable. The enthusiasm of 4 naturally
pea ce-loving, domestic. commercial peo-
Pile, ambitious to excel in the arts, sci
enccs and other fields of praiseworthv
endeavor, for military adventure was
destined to wane under the stress of a
long and costly war. n war demanding
the unccasing sacrifice of life and wealth
and the minor comforts that make ex-
is,ence endurable. When food in coun-
try ruled ~ n hereditary autoCrat grows
scarce and high priced there are always
those among the people who advocate n
change in the form OF government as
"A paracea for existing ills. The French
Revolution was a hunger strike.
1t may DO said, with certain reserva-
tons, that the present war in Europe.
is a struggle between autocracy and DEM
ocracy; tctween reaction. as represent
ed by deSpOtic rulers, and progress, az
represented by peoples devoted to in
dividualism. II is a combat to the death
between man and a machine. Out OF
the chaotic, colossal strife that this clash
between antagonistic ideals of govern
ment has engendered must emerge even
tually either an increase in the power
of hereditary autocracy or a mighty i'm
pc'us to the forces that make for democ-
racy.
Ii n peace between the warning nations
| should he patched UP tomorrow the pros
! poet Of an immediate European return
| to the calm ways of civiliza lion would
not he especially bright. Internal disor-
ders in many countries are sure to fol-
! low the cessation Of the general strife.
| The realization that the most gigantic
of all wars was precipitated not by tho
will of the peoples involved, but through
| the decisions of men claiming divine
/ right to rule the destnies Of nations has
come gradually to the minds Of millions
of Europeans Of all natonalities and there
! are growing indications that when the
war ends men who have been out for a
year or more killing their neehbors across
the border may have something protesting
to say to the governmental powers that
forced them into this savage occupation.
History illustrates the fact that war
and democracy are Inherently antago-
nistic The antidote to militarism must
he increasing and ever-increasinE doses
of democracy TO the body polite. The re-
action against German slaughter as a
method of settling international quar-
rels will he an overwhelming force in
Europe presently, and It's effects bid fair
to he sweepingly iconoclastic. 1t will in
all probability destroy n part If not all
of those pernicious survivals from an un-
enlightened past that block the way In
many European countries TO the register
ing of the peoples will. That a Republic
can party has sprung to life in Germany
is not strange. 1t was inevitable, and
perhaps there are other nations across
the water destined to witness a like
movement within their borders.-New
, York Sun.