The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-07-16

4
of the University of Montana, with
the task Of explaining the war in
series OF public meetings in the
state. He read In The Missou-
soulian of yesterday morning re-
port of the address given by Mrs
Kate Richards OHare,, Socialist
speaker, at Eagles hall Saturday
evening and submitted the follow
ing paper in reply to the womans
assertion that economic and not
ideal motives brought about
American participation in the
world war against Germany.
The sort of poison that Mrs. o'Hare
Is spreading about the country should
not go unchallenged and would not
merit notice if it still did not repre-
sent the ideas of a considerable body
Of people who do not yet realize the
issues at stake. 1t Is to the credit
of the Socialists here that they dis
claim responsibility for her address,
but it would have been highly to their
credit had they refused to listen to her
haranguc which questioned the mo-
tive of this country in the noblest
cause the United States has had the
privilege of championing.
Such propaganda as she is spreading
can serve no other purpose than to
lend aid and comfort to the enemy
who are seeking by any means they
can command to refeudalze the world
and who look upon every democratic
government as a bar to the confessed
scheme of Germany to make her soul
the worlds soul.
When we consider that interference
with our commerce, which precipitated
our recognition of IA state of war. Is
no longer mentioned as the big reason
for our participation, but that the fill
ing of our land with spies in time Of
peace: plots fomented and Matched in
the German embassy to blow up fac
tories organized press propaganda
backed by millions to create dislOyalty
on the part of German Americans. and
finally the attempt to embroil us with
Japan and Mexico, all constituted Il
state of war we could not evade and
retain our self respect. Do these in
stitute the background for money
fight as Mrs. O'Hare calls the war.
Does the contemplate and menacing
attitude of Germany toward the United
States from the Manual bay to the
Haiti incident mean anything to such
as Mrs. O'Hare when such syste-
matte bullying is contrasted with the
open friendliness of Great Britain and
her dominions as well as France?
If Mrs. O'Ilarc is ignorant of the
fact that Germany along in 1899 and
1907 blocked international arbitra ton
and refused even to allow discussion of
limitation of ornaments to come up
before The Hague conference: if she
does not know that Great Britain re-
peatedly from 1907 to the outbreak of
the war tried to reach an understand
ing with Germany to conclude with
her all entente as with France and
Russia so that the peace of the world
might be assured, then 1t Is high time
she enlightened herself on the back
ground of this war before she attempts
TO lay any blame on Great Britain or
States.
When our captains of industry come
forward and contribute millions as
generously as they were eager to make
it in past years., when there is hardly
a wealthy family III the country in
which there are sons that is not rep
resented in the army and navy. even
as prirates: when Armour and others
offer to turn over their plants to the
government at a minimum of profit on
the governments own terms, it is in
deed poor time to preach class dis
tinctions, for they have shown they are
imbued with the spirit that is the
boast of America.
The CONSUMPTION plan equalizes re-
sponsihility to safeguard liberty, and
rich and poor alike will be reached by
it. Yet the radical wing OF the So
cialist party, which Mrs. O'IIare repre-
sents. assails it as undemocratic. A
few months ago they Just as viciously
assailed the volunteer system as a
poor mans army and war conse-
qucntly as a poor mans fight. 1t is
only too evident that nothing the gov
crnment could do would please those
who believe as she docs
The greatest crusade for the ideal
of christianity that was ever waged Is
being carried on now by the allied ma
tons i'll the struggle with the nations
that started international hell. denied
the rights of little nations to live. in
PRODUCED frightfulness into war by in
human acts that would have shocked
the most savage. all under the sane
ton of a philosophy the German ma
ton is stepped in which claims that
"Christian morality cannot be politi-
cal" aud that right is a feeble illusion
when confronted with might.
The realization that has come to MS
in America during the last few months
that Belgium's heroic stand with Brit