The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-11-03
THE PERIL Of A
PRUSS|AN PEACE
CBy John spargo,

IAN ardent anti.militarist and pacifist.
For more than quarter OF a century I
have gladly given myself unreservedly
to the war upon war.
am stiil an ardent antiniilitarist
aud pacifist. hate war as much as
ever / did. Above all else want 10
see peace securely established.
! Nevertheless. confess that at this
tine | am more afraid OF Prussian
peace than I am Of a continuance OF the
war. horrible as that is. Prussian mil
ital'ism seeking to shape the conditions
Of world peace Is more to be feared
than when II Is sharpening lts swords
for war.
Essence of Prussian Miiitarisni.
The essence Of Prusslan militarism
is this: II organizes all the resources
uf civilization to the end of establishing
dominion over al peoples. With fiend.
I ish ingenuity Il has perverted 70 that
! iguoble and base end all the finest
achievements Of civilized man. In order
/ that these mighty forces may be made
OF benefit TO an mankind. and that the
| freedom of an peoples may bee secured,
B
ed for brute force in the organization
uf tho life Of the world. I'russien mill
1 tarism must be- destroyed.
| If am asked whether miitarism is
only dangerous when It Is Prussian;
whether Il is not fact that French
militaiism. British militarism. and now
American militarism. are equally per-
ilous and Objectionable. | answer that
tho essence of mililarism lies not in the
possession of trained armies, well
cqupped 1t lies rather, IN the determi.
nation To Use these forces for conquest
and dominion.
At present England is great army
camp. industrially il is vast arsenal.
But England has not organized her re-
sources for the purpose OF conquest and
dominion. Instead, she has created the
vast military machine she has in order
20 protect herself and her neighbors
against Germauy's aggression. England
las become great military nation. tenn
porarily, but she is not a militaristic
nation.
France. too. has been forced To aban-
don her normal pursuits and to develop
her military power TO an extent un.
dreamed Of. but France Is not a mill.
taristic nation.
The American people find themselves
in Il position similar to the people of
France and England. Hating war and
militarism, as our history clearly and
abundantly proves. we have been com.
PEELED 10 develop an enormous army in
order 20 protect the rights and the lives
of our citizens and those international
principles and institutions. without
which civilization can not be maintained.
We have no dcsire to dominate the
world. We seek no ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, no
anncNations of territory. no commercial
advantages. We do not even seek re-
Ncnge FOR the wrongs we have suffered
at the hands OF Germany. Our sole pur-
pose is the establishment of the security
of all nations against the lawless and
despotic conduct of II nation which ac-
knowledges no right save might. the
great power which despises the methods
OF civilization and insists upon II,
methods of barbarism.
Militarism is repusnant to us. We
prefer the plow TO the sword We are
happier in the triumphs OF industry
than in the triumphs of war. We fight
only because we must: because the ar.
gument of brute force is the only are,,.
ment the Prussian barbarian can com.
prehend or respect.
If peace We're made today upon the
terms which Prussia has caused 10 be
circulated throughout the world there
could be no guarantee that the peace
would be enduring. The vast Prussian
military machine would be maintained.
sun al the resources Of the German
ehlpire would be organized for the pur.
pose oi. dominating and ruling the life
ol the world and of subjecting all ma
tons 70 the will and purpose of Cor.
many. Under such conditions no ma.
ton which preserved that self.respect
and love OF independence which are es.
seatat to freedom and progress wouId
dare lessen its ornaments. To do 80
would be equivalent TO suicide. Tb.
haiohs would have to continue to waste
their substance in military prenara.
IONS against the inevitable day of Ger.
man assault
Inc United States. which has pe,er
heretofore maintained an .rr,,. 90 -.
size, would have to maintain nc a No.,
ot It's permanent organization a vast
army capable of meeting anv other xos,
army II would have TO enter into al.
liahces with other nations as n means |
ot protecting itself against other sui.
lnces' The Prussian peace would tbus
ias'en upon us. and upon all other M.
uons. military burden as great as tbs,
which the war has forced upon ms ard
them. '' an"
Peace That win BE Permanent
II, instead Of a premature peace nno,
terms dictated by Prussia. we whit for
the peace which will be possible unop
our own terms. and those of our allies.
When Prussia is obliged to acknoyvjed,,..
deteat and to surrender we shall be in
a position to throw off the military h,,r.
zen which would crush US TO the gropnd |
we snail be able TO deny Prussia the
right to maintain a menace to the com.
mon veal of the nations. and i'm so do.
ING assure our own safety and free
uom To i've Progressive disarnamep,
: only possible when Prussian m,li,..
''sih shaH have been DESTROYED.
stripped OF al disguises ana suh.je.