The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-17
Main Issue PIain-DemOcracy
Against AutOcracy.
Germans Claim To Be Fighting
To Spread "Kultur."
AT DEMOCRACY'S EXPENSE!
Kaiser's Idea To Make People
Servants of State.
Fighting To Elevate Human
Rights Above Barbarism.
BY WILLIAM ENGLISH WALLING.

!
BY WILLIAM ENGLISH WALLING.
| We are fighting for America and
against Germany. But even military
autocracy does not dare to defend
massa ores on the mere ground OF ma
tionaI egotism. The German ruling
class organized its vast propaganda
solely to convince the world, includ-
ing the Germans, that it is fighting Tor
principle And the considerable de-
velopment of that propaganda is
chiefly due to it's positive elements
The Germans tell us they are fighting
to spread ''kultur," scientific eff!-
cheney and organization, state social
ism.
We are fighting against the effort
of autocracy to spread at the expense
of democracy We are fighting to pre-
vent militarism from committing sue
cessful aggression. we are nghtlng
against war, against the return OF
barbarism. What are we fighting for?
For World Federation.
Why rest with the statement that
we are fighting against war and pre-
paration for war? Is it not infinitely
more inspiring that we are ngntng Tor
that ceaseless improvement OF the re-
lations between the nations which can
not fail to lead toward the federation
of the world?
Why say we are fighting merely to
defend democracy? Are we not fight
ing to spread it? We cannot spread
it by means of the machine gun. We
do not issue an ultimatum to the Ger
man people: You must accept democ-
racy But we do See-and Say-that
as long as autocracy continues to exist
we shall be obliged to wage some kind
of warfare against it,
But the German people may adopt
some deceptive compromise that Is
neither autOcracy nor democracy.
This we intend to prevent, but we can
prevent it only by demonstrating to
the Germans and to all the world that
democracy is superior in war, In diplo-
macy, in industrial technique and or
ganization, IN the handling OF raclal
and other minorities; that we lead IN
educating ourselves as to the issues of
war in the formulation of just terms
of peace, and in Willingness to sacri-
flee the smaller for the larger good.
Develop National Unity.
We are fighting to demonstrate the
s11nerioritv of democracy. But what
democracy has given US chiefly so far
has been individual opportunity IN
the lack of national organization TINS
opportunity has been little utilized Tor
the national welfare.
We are fighting to develop a supe-
riority where Germany mas thrown
down the challenge. We have to beat
ment of Industrial technique under the
leadership of government. We shall
not soon excel her as to thoroness,
which means long preparation and
often coercion or subordination of the
Individual But we shall excel in the
far more important matter of bring
ing forth individual initiative. And
our national organiZation-in proper
ton as we build up national organi-
zation-will prove superior because so
l.-vs5
much not being demanded, of them
will give more than is demanded.
Germans Worship State.
Again the Germans have produced
an efficient government. But they
have produced it by physical, mental
and moral compulsion of the individ-
ua1. The state is everything, it shapes
the very thoughts and aspirations of
the people. AS a result the state is
worshipped not only for what it is but
also for what 1t is not. The state can
do no wrong-at least abroad. At
is omnipotent- 1t is fate; resistance
is :nconceivable, revolution an out
worn theory. How can the great bulk
of citizens develop either courage or
intelligence in their attitude to such a
state?
The democratic governments of the
world also have been assuming vast
industrial functions since the war
ana II is possible th3t some of these
functions will be permanent. But I
these activities are not based on any
state doctrine taught the people by /
governments When the people have
felt need, the state has been their /
servant to supply that need-whereas |
in Germany it is the people that are |
the servants of the state. In America /
it is our state, and we are fighting to |
show not only that it can do every
thing that the German state has done
but can succeed where autocracy has |
failed.
Remove National Weaknesses,
This is what we are fighting for |
However humiliating it may be, we
of national efficiency in government /
and industry in time of peace. Only |
the frightful punishment and course |
of war could bring the democratic |
peoples to exert themselves to the |
maximum as nations. Not only are |
we obliged to do our best now to re- |
move every national weakness. The |
enemy gains still more from the base !
ness that has fingered among uS-the |
betrayal of our own democratic prin-
ciples.
We are fighting, then, not for what |
democracy was at Its worst, but for |
what democracy can be at its best |
No; this is not a negative war. It is !
a war to advance democ-acy-even in /
war time-is to develop it. Only in |
this way can we administer to the |
enemies of democracy a lasting phys |
ical, mental. and moral defeat.