Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-03-10
WAR OR PEACE?
LFrom TLo Irian WorId.

JlulCS dS luOSS uOW lOWtIluS upon IL.
There is no concealing the fact that
we are within measurable distance OF
war Even as we write some un-
toward event may be taking place
that will hasten the advent of the
awful conflict in which thousands of
American lives will be sacrificed.
Unquestionably the vast majority Of
the American people do not want
war. 1t is only a small minority that
desire it from unpatriotic, selfish
and sinister motives. Denationalized
Americans, who are more concerned
about England's interests than those
Of their native land, want it; mil
lionaire manufacturers of munitions
want it.; Wall street gamblers
want it.
During the last thirty months
Wall street has sold two and half
thousand million dollars worth Of
war supplies to England and her al
lies. The stock gamblers who have
accumulated vast fortunes from
these sales have learned that the
English Government has notified
American munition manufacturers
that they will receive no more Eng
lish orders after March 81. Hence
the desire Of these gamblers that the
United States should go to war. BY
doing so it will enable them to con
tinuc the gathering in Of the huge
gains Of the last two years and a
half. The Wall street view is stated
clearly in the following excerpt from
the weekly letter sent out to its GUS
toner by a Baltimore firm that is a
member OF the New York Stock Elk
change
Regarding war as inevitable,
Wall street believes that it would be
preferable TO this uncertainty about
the actual date OF its commencement.
Canada and Japan are at war and
are more prosperous than ever be-
fore. VIZ. The popular view is that
stocks would have quick, sharp re-
action Immediately upon outbreak Of
hostilities and that then they would
enjoy an old-fashioned bull market
such as followed the outbreak Of war
with Spain in 1898"
Because they anticipate that a war
with Germany would be followed by
big bull market, the Wall street
gamblers are shouting for war. So,
TOO, are the newspapers controlled by
their money.
shouting of these gamblers, Presi-
dent Wilson was for the second time
taking the solemn oath OF office
pledging him to execute faithfully
the office Of President of the United
States and to preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution Of the
United States" In the history of
the United States it was the second
! Presidential inauguration at which
the Chief Magistrate Of the country
was called upon to deal with the
question of war When Abraham
Lincoln took the oath of Office for
the second time on March, 1864, he
thus referred to the armed conflict
between the North and South.
"Fondly do we hope--fervently do
we pray-that this mighty scourge
of war may pass away"
Fifty-three years have come and
gone since the great hearted Lincoln
offered this earnest invocation for
the return OF peace. Another Presi-
| dent OF the United States stands
where the Martyred President stood
when the fate of the Union was still
| trembling in the balance He too is
called upon to face the prospect Of a
possible war in the near future. He
knows that millions of his country
men are waiting anXiously to hear
what he has to say on question that
monopolizes the attention of the Ma
tion The message he has for these
expectant millions Is one into which
| paciflsts and belligerents can read
their own meaning. 1t is far from
being explicit. 1t darkly hints at the
possibility Of war, whilst at the same
time it holds out the hope that peace
may yet be preserved. The pro-
British faction and the Wall street
| gamblers will construe this passage
Of the inaugural as favoring their
| designs.
1--WE have been obliged to arm
/ ourselves to make good our claim to
a certain minimum of right and Of
| freedom Of action. We stand firm
in armed neutrality since 1T seems
that in no other way we can demon
strate what it Is we insist upon and
cannot forego.
''We may even be drawn on by
circumstances, not by our own pur-
pose or desire, to a more active as
sertion Of our rights as we see them
and more immediate association
with the great struggle itself"
| If it were not for President Will
! sons past record, one would be dis
posed to interpret the words we have
J Just quoted as constituting thinly
/ veiled threat Of war. But the we'll
known peace sentiments of the one
who uttered them encourage the
hope that they do not portend re-
course to arms by the United States.
That would be a leap in the dark
fraught with the direst possibilities
for the future OF the country 1t .s
still possible for President Wilson to
4 keep the country from taking this
fatal leap. II he does so, he will
render America service that will
entitle him to the gratitude of all
truly patriotic Americans gratitude
Of Kind that will make him rank
in the estimation Of his couhtrymen
next after Washington and Lincoln
as the savior Of the Republic.
1t is great opportunity for secur-
ing enduring fame Win President
Wilson avail himself OF IL? With
him largely rests the decision
I whether or not America shall con.