The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-03-08

with a clear conscience, allow
others to usurp our sovereign
rights and repeatedly break SOL
emn agreements with impunity.
Heaven and earth would scorn
him If he did.
Everyone knows absolutely that
Germany or Austria would not
tolerate such acts for a minute un-
der any circumstances. Do the
citizens of the U. S. want to see
their country handled and toyed
with at the pleasure of other ma
lions until it becomes a plaything
for them?
In regard to the second argu-
ment, 1t is hardly worth discuss
ing. We are not seeking for an
entry into the conflict. If we are
drawn in it will be because we are
forced to uphold the rights of the
world and protect our citizens.
Who can say the central powers
are more civilized than their op-
ponents? If the contributor
thinks civilization is a question of
nationality or ancestry, he is way
off. In this country of ours where
all come to live together they have
proved their qualities to be about
equal, though their Characters
tics and ways of living vary
greatly.
No true American will encour-
age prejudice because of nation
ality. And really, do the Aus
trians, Bulgarians, Turks and
other Mohammedan tribes" look
better than the Russians, Italian,
Serbians and Roumanians?"
The Turk has proved himself to
be the most despicable of all hui
man beings. The Bulgarians, aft
er wagirfg war against the Turks
in the name of humanity and
Christianity, joins in to help him
in the slaughter. Why all this
sympathy for the German cause?
Didn't they bring it all on them
selves with the excuse that a
crazed Serbian killed a half-idiot
Austrian duke?
Would the U. S. be willing to
pay q huge sum for the act of a
crazed citizen in another country?
Neither would Serbia.
1t seems the kaiser was plan
ming the move for long time and
merely took this incident as a rea-
son for striking. He prepared for
It for so years. Munitions fac
tories were kept running night
and day. There is no doubt Ger
many had the most marvellous
military system in history. Every
thing was built Or arranged to
prepare the country for war.
Munitions, cannon, machine
guns, Zeppelins, submarines and
supplies were produced in aston
ishing quantities.
The world will never know how
much powder and guns was stored
up for the occasion. The great
est army in the world was main
tanned; boys were drilled for wal
as part of their school course and
the girls were taught to be nurses,
make clothing and supplies, run
the farms and institutions and
: any other work they could do in
order that all the men possible
could be spared for the battle
field.
The financial and industrial
problems of the country were sys-
temized and carried on with an
efficiency that was admired by
other nations.
Its citizens we're contented, for
there was work for all and the
system of distribution was ade-
Quate to supply the needs of all
But ALL THIS was done for
MILITARY PURPOSES AND NOT
FOR PUBLIC WELFARE! No
other countries were preparing on
any such scale except Austria.
: France was much like the U. s
Army and navy were neglected.
Even in Russia the military was
being dropped and progress made
; toward better conditions.
In England the army was al.
most nothing; she had the largest
, navy in the world but she also
: had by far the greatest coast-line
to protect and is in position
where mastery of the sea is abso.
lutely essential to her existence
, In time of war. Compared with
, her seaboard Germany's navy il
much the larger.
, When the hour came, the kaiser
had an army of 100000 ready
: in q week. Belgium was first in.
vaded in order to. strike France
on her weakest part. This act
was absolutely indefensible. Then
the Teuton forces marched into
: France and we're within Is miles
of Paris before the French could
rake up enough soldiers to offer
? any resistance.
: England was so warlike that In
3 three months she managed to drill
and send over small force te
] help the Belgians.
The Germans even had the fore
sight to place concrete bases fol
the big guns at strategic points all
over northern France, all Of
which proves that the allies want
ed and started the war and Ger.
many was merely defending her
3 self, does 1t not?
5 Can anyone condemn the Eng
. lish and French for obtaining
munitions in the U. S. when they
t had almost nothing to defent
q themselves with against the kai
3 ser's enormous supplies, especial
a Nv when IL Ia perfectly nroner ac