The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-01
THE REASON FOR WAR
Which is Now Devastating Half Of
the World, as Seen by a
Student of History

question is often asked and it re-
ceives many answers. Our peace
loving friends would have us believe
that if we would lay aside our army
and navy the other nations, admiring
our fine example of reliance on the
principles of righteousness, would do
likewise and SO there could be no fu-
ture war because there would be no.
thing to fight with. Furthermore, the
doing away with the implements of
war would show such splendid trust
in the amity and good will of other ma
lions that like feeling of peace and
good will to all mankind would be
aroused in them and therefore they
would, in consequence, be ashamed OF
their former warlike propensities and
would, with glad hearts and loud ac-
claim, herald the dawn of international
good will, the long-looked-for and ear
nestly prayed-for realization of the
dream of all sincere admirers of the
Prince of Peace. What beautiful
faith in the inherent nobility of man
kind shines forth in the belief Of our
pacifst friends!
Then, again, the men of Wharf.-The
men of Belial, they might be termed by
the pacifists-hold just the opposite
view and for just the opposite reason.
They say that since war has always
existed in the world, due to the quite
reasonable ambition to make ones own
national ideals paramount, or because
of mankind's natural greed and the
baser motives common to all, there
fore, war will always continue, at
least for many generations to come,
until the ideals of the world have
been elevated far above the present
standard.
Still others see in war splendid re-
suits. They hold that it stimulates,
purifies and ennobles by reason of its
terrible sufferings, casrifices and the
giving up of all for worthy aims.
They would recall the splendid results
of our war for independence and our
more terrible war for the preservation
of the integrity Of our nation when the
blue and gray forgot their brother
hood in their loyalty to their idealism'
Many other answers can be found to
speak the uncertainty of the world
as to whether or no this most terrible
of all wars our world has seen is to
be the last great conflict of the ma
tions.
Perhaps if we should consider some
of the reasons given for the present
war we might be better able to give
a satisfactory answer.
Among the reasons presented are:
| 1. German Imperialism and German
ambition, Germany's will to win her
place in the sun and Germany's ruth
iessness in so doing, as witnessed by
the ruin of Belgium. 1t is said that i
| Germany should achieve her aims anc
win the place in the sun she so ar
IDENTIFY desires, other nations woulC
soon find themselves eclipsed, ant
more than that, finally subject TO the
wonderful energy and tremendous
force of the Teuton giant. So thai
the safety of the world demands al
impeachment placed in the way of sucf
contingency. This opinion of the
nations seems justified by the facts
of the war thus far made evident
And vet | feel sure we have not stat
ed the ultimate reason for the war.
2. Again, many find in England
jealousy and alarm at Germany's mar
vellous commercial expansion tn
real reason for the war. For man,
years now England has been mistress
of the sea. Her proud title is JUST
fed by the fact that the sun neve
sets on her wide empire; that the nu
merous colonies need the protection
of the mighty feet, and more than al
that, where English policy is doml
nant there the races of mankind ar
benefited by those ideals Of justic
and thrift which have been approve
: as sound by the greatest Teacher tn
!. world has ever seen, the Galilean.
1t is claimed that Germany's ideal
are in direct conflict with those o
England and that the world approve
our English cousins in taking up tn
, gage thrown down by Germany whe
! she trampled into dust and blood he
! Belgian neighbors, thereby clearl
outraging that sense of justice an
= mercy common to mankind. So ths
here, indeed, is found reason adt
!, quate for the war. However TIL
may be, | will beg to differ from thi
4 most reasonable COHCluSluH anu oIh'
most emphatically that we have ne
= yet found the reason for the war.
8. Another theory is the deep-seate
!, revenge of France. About forty year
ago the heart of France was sorel
wounded by the loss Of her two beat
! tiful daughters, Alsace and Lorrain
Germany was the brutal ravishe
= Like tiger stung to madness by tt
cruel loss, France has waited for I'll
: opportunity to spring at the throat (
Z her neighbor; and now at last II
: time has come and all her children al
heart and soul fired with spirit I
2 revenge that will be satisfied by nj
thing less than German life and bloc
/ and the recovery of beautiful Alsa,
and Lorraine. Single-handed, Fran,
s could never have succeeded, but no
s. that her powerful friends, Englar
l. and Russia, are found willing to jo
>, hands with her in curbing once al
L. for all the dangerous tendencies
l. German ruthlessness, she believes h
L. hope may be attained. Once aga
it may be frankly replied we have n
vet found the reason for the war.
a. 1t is long way from the SUM
fields Of France to the cold and fro
en- heart of Russia. But the stream
madness flows very swiftly in the
| q A IL.