Denver labor bulletin., 1917-05-12
A MAROONED NATION
By SToUGHTON COOLEY

man note. The absurdity of the note
itself, they claimed, was complete evil
dence of its falsity. Such a position
at time when faith in the German
foreign Office was all but exhausted
resulted in complete collapse on the
admission that the note was genuine
As knight errantry disappeared amid
outlaws at the appearance of Don
Quixote, SO the Hohenzollern parti-
sans in this country fell silent on the
appearance of the Zimmerman note
1t does not require the gift of
prophecy to see that the age of democ-
racy has dawned. Kaisers, kings,
princelings and mobiles will cling to
their privileges until shaken loose,
but shaken loose they undoubtedly will
be, The king of England may be per-
mitted to remain for a time, possibly
for life, because he has already been
shorn of all political power, and is now
merely a very expensive social orna-
ment. The kings of Spain and Italy
also may reign for a few years, as
they have ceased to rule and have
talked familiarly of the idea of a re-
publican form of government for their
countries. Albert of Belgium and
Wilhelmina of Holland are held in pc
culiar affection by their people; but
the king of Norway and Sweden, Dem
mark, Greece and the Balkan states
will either be reduced to political
nonentities like the king of England
or compelled to step aside to make
room for republics.
Can anyone believe that in such an
event the German people will tolerate
the kaiser and the emperor of Aus
tria-Hungary? Not if they had con-
cluded a successful war could those
rulers have long withstood the sweep
ing tide of democracy. How much
less, then, will they be able to with
stand it in the face of defeat?
English philosophers long ago rec
ognized the fact that in the revolt
of the American colonies in l776 the
colonists were fighting for the cause
Of English liberty in England as well
as in America; for the same move
ment that threw off the yoke of the
kings on this side of the ocean led to
the removal Of his political power at
home. The same thing Will be true
Of Americas war upon Germany. 1t
is bitter dose for Americans of Ger
man blood to be compelled to fight
against the fatherland. but rest as
sured they will do it if called upon,
and prove themselves to be among our
most steadfast citizens.
They will fight the battles of their
adopted country as matter of duty,
for if they will sacrifice so much in
behalf of an autocratic government,
in which single individual by divine
right declares war and makes peace,
how much more will they give in the
service of a government that rests
upon political equality. And the time
is not distant when they will realize,
as the people of England did. that in
fighting the battles of America they
were fighting for the liberation of the
German people.
Nor is that all of the present war.
America too must clean house. The
charge that we have grown careless
of our liberties thru too much pros
perity has some truth. The country
as a country is prosperous beyond
any example in history, but that can
not be said of all our people. Yet
that condition must be brought about
before America can be said to have
achieved its mission. Unless we do
little housekeeping the revolution
that is sweeping thru Europe, and al
ready has come TO a head in Russia,
will find some fuel to feed upon in
the United States.