The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-11-17
The War: What Against,
What For
(By William English Walling.)

w
We are fighting for America and
against Germany. But even military
does not dare to defend
massacres on the mere ground of ma
tional egotism. The German ruling
class organized it's vast propaganda
solely to convince the world, inciud-
ing the Germans, that it is fighting
for principle. And the considerable
development of that propaganda is
chiefly due to its positive elements.
ing to spread '.kultur." scientific eff
ficiency and organization, state So
cialism.
We are fighting against the effort
of autocracy to spread at the ex-
pense Of democracy. We are fighting
to prevent militarism from commit
ting successful aggression. We are
fighting against war, against the re-
turn of barbarism. What are we
fighting for?
Why rest with the statement that
we are fighting against war and
preparations for, war? Is it not in
fnitely more inspiring that we are
fighting for that ceaseless improve
ment of the relations between the
nations which can not fail to lead
toward the federation of the world?
Why say we are fighting merely to
defend democracy? Are We not
lighting to spread it? We can not
spread it by means of the machine
gun. We do not issue an ultimatum
to the German people: You must
accept democracy. But we do see
and say-that as long as autocracy
continues to exist we shall be oblig-
ed to wage some kind of warfare
against 1t.
But the German people may adopt
some deceptive compromise that is
neither autocracy nor democracy.
This we intend to prevent. but we can
prevent it only by demonstrating to
the Germans and to all the world
that democracy is superior in war, in
diplomacy, in industrial technique
and organization, in the handling OF
racial and other minorities; that we
lead in educating ourselves as to the
issues OF war. in the formulation OF
just GERMS of peace, and in willing
ness to sacrifice the smaller for the
larger good.
We are fighting to demonstrate
the superiority of democracy. But
what democracy has given us chiefly
so far has been individual oppor-
tunity. In the lack of national or
ganization this opportunity has been
little utilized for the national well
fare. --,..,zz---E
We are fghtin 5Iop a supe-
riority where Germany has thrown
down the challenge. We have to
in oh f1n1
yelopment of Industrial technique
under the leadership of government.
We shall not soon excel her as to
the roughness, which means long
preparation and often coercion or
subordination Of the individual. But
we shall excel in the far more i'm
portant matter of bringing forth in
dividual initiative. And our national
organization-in proportion as we
build up national organization
will prove superior because SO many
individuals in all ranks-too much
not being demanded of them-will
give more than is demanded.
Again the Germans have produc-
ed an efficient government. But they
! have produced it by physical, mental.
and moral compulsion of the individ-
ual. Inc state Is everything, II
shapes the very thoughts and aspira-
lions of the people. AS a result the
state is worshipped, not only for
| what it is, but also for what it is
not. The state can do no wrong
at least abroad. At home it may not
be omniscient, but it is omnipotent.
It is fate; resistance is uncomfortable
revolution an outworn theory. How
can the great bulk of citizens devel-
CD either courage or intelligence in
their attitude osuch a state?
The democratic government of the
| world also have been assuming vast
| industrial functions since the war
and it is possible that some Of these
| functions will be permanent. But
these activities are not based on any
| state doctrine taught the people by