Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-28
What Shall the Harvest BE?

I wv years ago To-Day Austria hungary de-
clared war on Serbia and precipitated that
clash Of nations which has plunged Europe
into sea of blood. Millions Of men have
been slain. billions of dollars worth of prop
erty has been destroyed, passions that the
progress of the race had been thought to
have stfed have burst into angry being and
from the widowed and the fatherless goes up
such wall OF anguish as the world has
never known.
What shall the harvest be? If this Titans
struggle is to be indecsive of any OF the moral
issues involved; if Europe. when it ends is
10 be merely another armed camp with re-
vengeful foemen awaiting the favorable mo-
ment 10 hurl themselves at the throats OF the
enemy: if secret diplomacy and distorted am
billions. the crazed egotism Of Kings and
their ministers lust for power arc to be
permitted to throttle freedom, sheer at peace
glorify war and deny mans reasonable
piration to life, and love, and happiness. then
every drop of hero blood that stains Europes
soil will have been split in vain, and the lover
of humanity, with hopes blasted and dreams
ended, will be tempted in his soul to curse
God and die.
Whatever be the facts that fix RESPONSE
bility for this Incredible crime, we may take
IL as assured that the most guilty nation and
the most guilty individual never desired what
time and fate have brought. Austria GER
tainly, wanted war, but not this war. Her
Serbia, while Russia held in check by
Germany's menace, and with the destruction
OF Slay influence and the erection OF her own
hegemony in the Balkans the certain out
come. Germany did not want this war
either The kaiser's dream was OF an England
lulled into doclity by the love Of gold and
the fear of losing it, and rendered impotent
by strikes among her workers and the con-
slant threat of civil war in Ireland With
England standing aside until her hour should
strike, Germany conceived the struggle in
terms OF a swift descent through Belgium on
France and Paris. and the reduction Of her
western neighbor in time to meet and destroy
the slow-moving battalions of the Gar
The world knows how these expectations
were disappointed. 1t is not profitable in
the presence of questions now become far
more important to rehearse the various steps
and processes by which one nation after an
other stepped into the bloody breach AT the
Marine. when Jofre threw back the kaiscr's
legions, Germanys dream OF conquest van
ished into air From that moment, given
solidarity among the allies, their ultimate
triumph was certain. There are indications
at last that the long period of preparation
tho allies allowed themselves has served its
purpose, and that they proceed now to realize
on their investment. They have victory in
their hands and they will clutch it, What
will they do with it?
OF course Belgium and the occupied dis
trics OF France must be restored to their
owners, and for the Poles and the Ruthenians
the Serbs and the Italians Of the unredeemed
provinces, the Armenians and the Albanians
there must be such q measure OF Justice as
will recognize the principle OF rationale
and national aspiration.
For the rest, sensible men talk no moro NJ
destroying Germany. for they know that
Germany cannot be destroyed. Ii she were
crushed as France crushed fortv-Gye
years ago. Inundated, as France then was
Illuminated, plundcred, France then was
piundered, all to crafty a military autocracy
the next fifty years would see another com
petition in ornaments and the first occasion
another world war
There must be in the counselS of the allies
men with minds great enough and vision
strong and true enough to grasp these truths
II thcre are and IL their wisdom and their
! charity can point the way to lasting peace
| humanity will call them blessed untold gen
| erations Will hymn their praises as the saviors
| OF the race and they will write their names
| Immortal on history's scroll