New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-12
Along With Kaiserism

Along With Kaiserism
The Kaiser is not the only social incubus
whose doom is sealed by the turn when
events have taken in this war. Probably
never before in history, not even IN the
Reformation, or in the revolutions OF the
eighteenth century, has there been such a
General sitting out of the useless, the worn.
out the harmful, as is now going on and
must follow this general shaking up OF
nresent civilization. We are, indeed, APP
nroaching a new age, and all that enters
into the future must pass the severest test
of social fitness. Customs, practices, be-
uefs which have survived for centuries are
being broken up and cast aside by the hand
of necessity. Old standards Of value have
fallen and new ones are being raised up
Into the scrapheap along with Kaiser
ism goes the old policy Of national expan-
sion and colonial possession which began
with the discovery Of the New World IN
the fifteenth century, and has for five
thousand years inspired much of the COM
petition for national greatness. The cry
"A place in the sun" will never again
mean what IL meant in the summer OF
1914. Henceforth, national greatness will
be measured by the happiness Of peoples
the freedom and Justice of their laws, their
excellence in the arts of peace and civili-
zation.
Into the scrapheap along with Kaiser
ism goes the old diplomacy of secrecy and
intrigue, the old statecraft based upon
thirst for military power and dynastic am
hilton. upon class privileges and suspicion
or neighboring states. The world will not
forgive, not permit again, the bungling stu
pidity. the conceit and hypocrisy which
three years ago precipitated this crisis
upon the least warlike generation In his
tory. Never before did men march of 70
war with so little Of the professional sol
der in their hearts, or with such grim de-
termination that never again will selfish
and antiuuated diplomacy be permitted SO
10 curse humanity.
Into the scrapheap along with Kaiser
ism is going the old-fashioned game Of do
nestle politics. Probably no group Of men
in history have in so short time shown
themselves incapable Of the real tasks OF
government as the Grating, protesting poll
ticians Of the old school, whose eighteenth
century ideas of government, parochiaI
outlook and habit of bluflng and CHANGING
have everywhere so weakened the effective
ness Of democratic nations in the war that
the first task of each, before it could sum
mon its forces for the struggle, has beer
to take out of the hands Of politicians the
control Of affairs and place it in the hands
of experts.
Into the scrapheap along with Kaiser
ism is going the old economic individualisn
left over from the nineteenth century
Everywhere a new naturalization of in
dustry is taking place. For years the
waste and social injustice Of the old
laissez faire system we're a scandal upon
Western civilization. But it has taken the
war, with its consequent mobilization OF
ell national resources, to give TO private
greed. speculation and social inefhciency
their coup de grace.
Into the scrapheap along with Kaiser
ism is going our foolish and traditional
dsfranchisement Of half the human race
because Of the difference of sex. Sooner
or later equal suffrage must have come as
a necessary democratic adjustment to mod
ern industrialism, the fact Of universe
education and the modern sense Of fair
ness; but the situation created by the wal
has fastened woman suffrage as nothing
else could have done.
Into the scrapheap along with Kaiser
ism has gone the traditional national iso'
lation Of America. From this day onward
we are world citizens. A new information
slism, which is at the same time splendid
new and broader nationalism, has taker
possession Of u.s. Whatever is done to any
one-in Belgium, Serbia, Armenia-come:
swiftly back 10 US. With the new sense Of
the solidarity Of humanity the basic prin
ciples Of democracy take on new meaning
and demand new application. Each day
the meaning Of these trying times becomes
clearer 10 US. This is democratic renais
sance, a general housekeeping Of civiliza
ton which was long overdue.