Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-28
Selected by Tavenner


the Mediterranean, to the raising of
obstacles and Gibraltars to freedom OF
trade and commerce. They have
created thousand rumors. suspicious,
and hatreds, a great increase in arma
ments for the protection Of private in
vestments: they have given birth to
diplomatic intrigues and demonstra-
lions OF force that have changed a con
flict Of private groups into a conflict
of peoples.
Behind these private groups of A.
nanciers and concession seekers one
finds the foreign office and diplomacy,
the war lords and the ruling caste To-
gether they have made common cause
with the munition makers and the
trading classes. These classes own or
control great portions of the press
They mould public opinion. They
control political advancement They
are society. These forces are the state
much as Louis XIV or Frederick the
Great was the state Outside of
France, and to some extent Great
Britain and Italy, the state in its for
eign relations is little more than the
political and financial will of the rul-
ing classes. 1t is a merger of seven
teenth and twentieth century feuda-
lism.
ANY question as to the correctness
of this Interpretation of the cause OF
the European war will, / think. be laid
at rest by reading of the record of
British penetration into Egypt and
Africa; OF French aggressions in AL
gerta, Tunic, and Morocco; of the par
tition of Persia by Russia and Eng
land; OF German relations with Tur-
key: of the intrigues and bad faith of
the powers toward the Balkan states,
China, Persia, and Morocco; Of the
struggles of the powers over the build
ing of the Bagdad railway; of the in
timacy of the munition makers and the
financiers with their respective gov
ernments and foreign offices.
The gravest danger to the country IS
from within. The danger is as real as
any that ever confronted us. Private
interests are at war with the interests
of the nation. They menace our peace
full security. Surplus wealth has ap~
peared. We have become a creditor
nation. The resources and railroads
OF the country have passed under mon
opoly control. The colossal prof
its of the past two decades from eX-
ploitation are no longer possible. They
can only be secured in the less deveI-
oped places of the globe, where back
ward people and lack of capital offer
opportunities for investment Thes"
are the conditions that have preceded
and aggression the world
over. Surplus wealth in search OF
monopoly profits led the financiers of
Europe into distant parts. Here they
came into conflict with other financiers
in search of similar gains. To protect
their investments and insure their
loans and concessions the investors de-
manded a great military and naval es-
Enlistment The foreign Office and
became involved. Irri-
tations and diplomatic controversies
finally ripened into war as the only
means for the arbitrament of the con
fict
This is the danger which now con
fronts US. 1t is a danger from within
rather than from without. It is a dan
ger we should anticipate and provide
against, Just as we provide against .
foreign foe. And if we take adequate
against the foes within the
country we shall safeguard ourselves
against those without. :,
For if the war in Europe teaches
anything it is that the foes within are
responsible for the foes without.
1t is they who are the jingoes. it IS
they who are loudest in advocating |
it is they who talk most |
Of national dignity and honor.
1t is they. too. who insist on the |
destiny of the country and place in |
the sun.
There is scarcely a war or war scare |
Of the past 90 years, unless it be those |
Of the Balkans, that, in its last analy- |
sis, is not the result of the activities !
Of individuals and classes within the |
rather than of aggressive |
foes from without.