Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-03-22
OUR FOOLS PARADISE OF WAR
PROSPERITY.

will follow q cessation OF destruction
| but as we'll because the economic
welfare of their own land demands
il, there is a numerically small but
| Financially overwhelmingly power
ful minority fighting to the last
ditch to have the war continued as
l1ong as possible. They are actuated
by no higher motive than that which
springs from their own pocketbool5s.
They care nothing for their fellow
citizens. Their country may go to
the dogs. They want the war to go
on solely that they may increase
still further their already over
grown fortunes They realize that
with peace will come resumption
Of normal Industrial conditions in
this country and normal commercial
conditions throughout tho world,
and with the resumption of these
conditions their profits will be stated
in thousands, where to-day they arc
counted in millions of dollars.
The thinking American, whose
thoughts extend beyond the imme-
diate limits of present profit, and
who has time occasionally to con-
slider the good of his country as a
vantage, is the irreconcilable foe Of
this money-mad group. The dangers
inherent in the augmentation of its
already powerful hold upon national
policies are not alone those which
he observes in the continuation Of
the war for the particular benefit OF
its members. Another considera-
ton appeals to him not less force
fully
We are living to-day in fools
paradise Of unnatural and temporary
prosperity. It is quite true, as the
munitions lords Of the country as
sure us, that times have never been
better" There is little unemploy-
ment at the present time Wages
are good Commodities are selling at
exorbitant prices. We are all maxi
ing money. Whatever goes up, how
over, as Newton discovered, must
come down--ex except prices. When
the war is over, and it must end
eventually despite our money kings,
we arc bound to find ourselves in a
very bad situation; and every day
the war goes on will make that con
dition, when il arrives. immeasura-
bly, worse Wages will drop-but
prices viii not When Europe flew
to arms, abandoning to some extent
It's claim to foreign markets, much
was heard OF the opportunity given
MS TO extend our overseas trade. We
hear little OF this to-day. We are
told that the war must go on because
it is feeding the steel, and few
other industries in this country,
and indirectly bringing prosperity
into every American home We are
not told, however, how long this
prosperity will last. 1t will last, Of
course, just as long as the war, and
no longer.
We have acquired nc new foreign
markets through Europes holo-
caust AS a matter Of plain fact, we
are losing to-day rather than gain
ing. That this would be the case was
clearly foreshadowed from the mo-
ment the Administrator discovered
It's policy OF supporting the mobiliza-
ton OF our industrial resources by
Great Britain.
The student of British CONNER
clal activity through the last three
decades could have prophesied to the
last dot when the present war would
break out. why it was demanded
and the use to which il would be put
by the British Government; and his
prophecy would have been confirm
ed by the conduct which we have re-
Gently observed on the part Of the
British Government.
Wo do not challenge the right of
Great Britain to look out for her
own interests That is the first duty
/. ta.aH
10. however, is the connivancc Of a
group of pseudo-Amcricans in her
plot, to the undoing of their own
country One Order in Council after
another has been issued to restrain
American trade generally or to con-
fine 1t to tho present needs OF Great
Britain and her allies. On the plea
OF military necessity Sir Edward
Grey and his colleagues ask that we
exhibit q degree Of patience. All
win be righted, they say, in the end.
Some things however, cannot be
iighted even in the end.
We have been denied our recog-
nized right to trade with neutrals in
Europe. We have been refused the
right to trade in non-contraband Of
war with the enemies of Great Bril-
tain-rand she calls it blockade =.
While business is booming along
the whole line" in Great Britain, and
old markets are being retained and
new ones acquired, the whole mer-
chant marine Of the nation is placed
under the absolute control OF the
Government We cannot ship to
South America although England
can because tho British Govern
ment needs 1.-THE vessels! We arc cut
Off from shipping to Great Britain
herself by late Orders in Council,
anything but those supplies required
by the Government in the prosecu-
tion OF the war. It is Britain's
privilege to take these steps, as we
have said, but it is our folly which
permits war, giving her this
privilege. 10 carry on. We have the
same right to look out for ourselves
that Great Britain and France and
Russia have TO look for themselves.
When the war is over we shall
have to face conditions which are
not pleasant 10 look forward to- We