Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-12
rnE pRuss,AN PROGRAM.

THE PRuss,AN PROGRAM.
There are Americans who, even now,
feel IN all sincerity that their govern
ment could have averted war by con
tinuing the policy which President
Wilson adopted at the outset. They
saw and believe that if he had treated
the declaration of unrestricted subma
rine warfare as he treated the sinking
of the Lusitania and similar incidents
America would have remained techn1.
cally a neutral nation to the END OF
the war, regardless Of It's outcome.
They sum up their argument IN the
ASSERTION that this is not our war.
N is time for these Americans to de-
vote some serious thought to the logic
az the situation, which proves with
absolute plainness that this is Amerl'
cas- war and has been Americas war
from the very beginning.
The very spirit of our governmental
institutions, their theory and their
basic principles unite to make 1t our
war. for on Germany's side 1t is war
d OF oppression, of autocracy as opposed
to democracy, of inhumanity as op-
posed to humanity, of absoluusm as
opposed to freedom.
But waving this features one
must who believes President Wilson
should have continued his policy of
aloofness In spite of Germany's out
RACES on decency, international law
and the rights Of independent states
this fact is borne out by every devel-
opment since long before the war be-
gan: Germany planned for years and
wears for conflict which would bring
domination of Europe first and doml-
nation of America and the western
world next.
Every logical deduction that can be
reached by means Of exhaustive study
Of history and analysts of Germany's
actions dating from Bismarcks TIME
compels definite realization that from
the outset OF his campaign OF pfepar-
edness which preceded the present
wsr. domination Of the United States
has been-and still is-a part OF EN-
peror Wilhelm's plan.
Not part of Germany's plan, In the
sense that Germany means the Ger
man public, for the people OF the en-
nire did not and do not now know the
program of their ruler.
Germanys war lord maintained
spy system in every country. He has
known in detail what our nation and
Other nations were doing and what
they intended to do. while he kept his
own plans absolutely in the dark. Our
government and other governments
could learn the details Of his plans
only as he put them into operation.
Now. as the extent Of his spy system
Is becoming known. the extent OF ms
scheme for world domination also be
comes evident. Connected as are the
threads of mystery story, they head
Enthusiastically to the logical conclusion
that the kaiser seeks to make the
Hohenzollern family rulers OF the
world.
Bismacks plan was to permit Eng
land and France to acquire colonies
and dependencies in all parts of the
world. He knew these interests and
the necessity for protecting and dis
eiplining them would keep both gov
ernments busy. He knew, too, that
france and England would watch each
others accessions jealousy. guard
Nhe,r boundary lines and be subject al
Vays to the chance Of war over those
boundaries. The Fashoda incident was
an example OF what Bismarck fore
saw.
In the meantime. according to his
n,an. the German rulers were to Prus-
s;anjze Europe. His plans were well
On the way to realization when he
died. After his death the kaiser fol-
lowed out his program and improved
on It by conceiving bigger project
that of bringing the whole OF the east
ern hemisphere under Prussian doml'
nation.
He frightened his grip on Austria. got
turkey and Bulgaria under his thumb
and set his plans for grand military
base at Bagdad, located practically at
the head of the Persian gulf.
He reasoned that with England con
nuered and a big German navy in the
indian ocean, India would fall under
his sway. An army in Bagdad and
Germany's possessions in Africa prac
tically would complete his control OF
three continents, for Russia. France
ond England would be helpless as
against Germany then, while Japan
would be unable to make trade agree
ments with any European country
without Germany's approval
Every development of this war bears
ont this theory Facts which are being
revealed piecemeal and which have
been In the possession of the authori
ties at Washington for months
STRENGTHENS the confirmation.
Can anyone imagine that. with
Europe, Asia and Africa under Prus
sian rule, the head of that wide oil
garchy. drunk with such power, woulc
be content? Can anyone doubt that his
next move would be to seize control OF
the western hemisphere by crushins
the United States? This would be the
only government on this side Of the At
lantic which would demand his serious
consideration The others would fal
before him without a struggle once the
United States should be conquered.
We were in for war with Germany
Whistler we knew it or not, whether
re willed IT or not. No diplomacy, nc