New-York tribune., 1917-07-29

absolutists, and those in Germany in par
ticuIar are held responsible. In speaking
of German audacity The Springfield Re-
publican points out that in violating the
neutrality of Belgium and Luxembourg En-
peror William is doing what Bismarck did
not dare to do in lS7O and goes on to say
that they think it is true, as charged by the
French, that the German Emperor forced
Austria to fight when she was willing TO
submit her differences with Serbia TO an in
ternatonal conference, and that 1t is more
villanous than anything that has occurred
in international relations since the time Of
Frederick the Great
"'The St. Louis Republic likewise blsmes
Germany, but is careful to point =. out
that il is the German government, not the
mass Of the people who want war. No two
things can be further apart than the spirit
of the German War Office and the spirit Of
Germany says The Republic and adds:
The cure for war is democracy-"the consent
of the governed
1T is all the fruit Of a false national am
bition and of imperialism and special privi-
lege fighting against Christian internation-
alism,' in the opinion of The Lewiston
(MeD Journal while The Philadelphia
Public Ledger believes tha. the ultimate
issue, stripped Of all the subordinate but
vital hopes involved, is commerce The
Louisville Courier-Journap also thinks the
war is due to big business at its worst as
an example of criminal brutality, and an
utter lack Of consideration for the guild
fools who the tolls of war pursue, we bleed
the many to enrich the few. 90
The political alliances Of Europe, winch
have dragged, one after another, Germany,
Russia, France and England into the difi-
Guilty between Austria and Serbia, 'and
which have been called the safety of Eu.
rope, are now peril ard d curse accords
ing to The Buffalo Commercial %
What will the outcome Of this gigantic
struggle be if the two nations stand alone
against a number that is increased by al-
most daily declarations Of war? Perhsps
Americans have been 50 stunned by the size
Of the conflict that they have not thought
much Of the outcome, realizing that, which4
ever wins the world will lose; or, perhaps
with the traditions Of a peaceful and un-
military nation behind them, they have hesi>
tated 20 make presictions concerning matt
ter5 Of which they are supposed 20 know
little.
"At any rate, the American press seems nov
disposed to prophesy as to the outcome so
far as immediate and palpablc success Of
arms is concerned. Those that do prophesy
are pretty well agreed with The Phladel-
phia Public Ledger that it seems as IL
Germany had undertaken too titanic a task!
The Ledger's' reason for this view, TOO
the scarcity of provisions which Germany
will feel in a long war-s the usual reason
given. The Boston Transcript and sThs
Hartford Courant' believe that the British
feet is likely to be a determining factors ard
The Wall Street Journal remarks that
there is one awkward little fact Of which
the Continental strategists, and some of{our
own, prepared to divide up the British En-
pire in advance, conveniently forget. 1t is
that the British navy is always on war
footing This paper, too, is more sanguine
Of the possibilities of the British army than
most critics, and reminds US that Great
Britain possesses what no other country
I uOeS, oOO,OOO men, SJlll OF IENLlNB age VINO
have had the invaluable experience of being
shot over
There seems TO be a widespread feeling in
America that democracy. which is supposed
to blossom in this country, and the republi-
can form Of government, which is well ex-
emplifed by the United States, will ccr-
tainly gain by the European struggle. The
feeling is that absolutsm and the divine
right fetch are in for big setback.
"'Whatever happens says The New York
Evening POST urope-humanity-wil not
settle back again into a position enabling
three emperors-one Of them senile, an.
other subject to meanchola, and the third
often showing signs Of disturbed mental
balance-to give, on their individual choice
or whim, the signal for destruction and
massacre And The Chicago Tribune
adds: This is the twilight Of the kings.
Western Europe Of the people may be caught
in this debacle, but never again. Eastern
Europe of the kingr will be remade, and
the name Of God shall not give grace to q
/ hundred square miles of broken bodies
! "lt is the twilight Of the kings. The repubS
liz marches east in Europe"