The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-21
America and Peace.

Germany continues to talk peace
but in way that gives no ground fol
hoping that peace. win result. "We went
into the war that was forced upon us,
says the Vossiche Zeitung, with only
the thought of freeing Germany from
the grip of it's enemies"
As long as intelligent and well in
| formed Germans continue TO assume that
the war was forced" on Germany, il
seems a waste OF breath to talk of peace
| The allies entertain no doubt that they
| were attacked, after years OF prepara.
tion. BY an imperialist power which was
seeking TO become the master Of the
world This conviction, born OF study
Of the immediate causes Of the war, ha
been confirmed by the evidence since Of
fered of the completeness Of German
military preparation. They do not be
lieve that unrepentant Germany, as long
as under the control of the men and in
fluences that ruled her for two decades,
can be trusted to keep the peace if she
is allowed to emerge from the war as
the strongest military nation. II is sp-
pretended that peace under these cir
clmstances would merely mean a truce
in which there would be preparation for
another war. The next time it is feared
that German diplomacy would be skillful
and that she would attach to herself
stronger allies. Suppose Germany should
revert to her traditional policy OF friend
ship for Russia and revive the three
kaiserbund. Democratic civilization as
understood by France, Great Britain, and
this country would totter to its fall. If
the allies win the war it viii be because
of Russia, and Russia would have been
on the other side if the Teuton autocrscy
had not been guilty of the practical folly
of arousing against itself the national
feeling of the Slavs.
A draw does not mean peace, and no
true pacifist can so believe. No decision
would mean that the democratic coun-
tries, including our own, would need to
arm themselves as never before. The
army and navy appropriations made by
Congress this year are large. II would
be necessary to double or triple them
should the news come from over the wa
ter that an inconclusve peace had been
made. No responsible American states.
man would dare say that this country
,oud rely on being let alone. Ordinary
prudence would require us also TO learn |
he goosestep if the world against Slr
wish is to be ruled on goosestep prin-
siples.
Sound Americans do not want this |
to become a militaristic nation
They want us to have chance to con
inue to be pacific, Their interests and
heir habits are opposed to living in a
orce-ruled world They have dreamed
he great dream of the human family as
brotherhood But sound Americans are
ealists as well as idealists. They recog
lize what is as well as what should be-
they know that have read some history,
nd they recall what happened to Athens
nd to Carthage when they sought to be
'acifc when their neighbors were mill
artistic.
Thus America is vitally concerned in
he sort of peace that is made--taking
he long view is as much concerned as
ny other nation. To protect Americas
uture militaristic Imperialism must be
rought to its knees II is necessary to
iscourage war lords--it is necessary to
ave no ruler begin a war and then have
is people accept as true his unsupported
ssertion that the conflict was forced"
n him.--New York Globe.