Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-09
Militarism Oar Foe

LAElNG failed in their effort to preserve
peace at any price, even the price OF dis
honor. certain pacitists have announced their
intention to fight the passage of compulsory
service legislation Those who like MIR
Bryan are most sincere in their dread OF a
militaris;ic spirit in this country may still
cling to tho dream of millions of men loaping
to arms TO defend the country If that dream
has not vanished. at least there is not time
to wait for its fulfllmcnt Millions OF men
are not leaping to arms, and the administ ra-
tion realizes the necessity for the speedy es-
Enlistment OF selective conscription system.
1t is hardly to be doubted that such plan
will he adopted. and quickly
When it is adopted, it will mean not a
step toward mlitarism, but another blow to
miitarism. For the one. final object Of this
war is the wiping out of militarism and all
that it implies. 1t is not necessary to 20
mo all the causes of the war. Immediate or
remote, nor TO consider what each Of the
European nations hoped when the war began
1t Will suffice to have in mind only the great
purpose that now animates all the allied ma
tons. including the United States. Stripped
OF all collateral questions, that one purpose
is this: the triumph OF democracy and the
pcrmanence OF peace.
IheSc two, which are interdependcnt and
inseparable, can never be attained until the
central powers are SO defeated that the power
of Prussian autocracy is broken and milf
iariSm no longer rules the great German
empire Whether that shall be accomplished
by the physical dissolution of the empire mr.
by it's spiritual rebirth. cannot now be fore
told But it is inevitable. else all the suffer
ing. now and to come. will have been in vain
1t is for that we are giving battle to Ger
many. The outcome is certain as that
right is right. Prussia's dynastic and militaris-
Tic control of the German states is doomed
Then what will be the practical and imme-
date result?
There will be peace league. doubtless
modelled closely along the lines laid out by
the League to Enforce Peace. That league
will combine To compel Quarreling nations to
submit their claims TO arbitration. and only
after all other means have failed and after
a considerable lapse of time, will the league
or nations permit one Of its member nations
to make war. Such course will discourage
war as no other plan has discouraged il since
history began. With war more remote pos
sibility than ever before. another ideal of the
League 10 Enforce Peace will approach
realization and nearer and nearer will come
disarmament There will be no need for
mighty armies Even on the Continent the
people VIII cease 10 stagger under the weight
OF vast military establishments Here there
will be less need for military strength than
there was before the war began TO clutch
at
Now II has clntchcd us. and we must do our
iuil part. 1t must not be lett TO Great Britain
France Russia and smaller states TO fight
democracys battle but we must attack the
evi! OF autocracy with autocracy's own
weapons. We must become a military pcoDIe
for time in order 10 Kill militarisn forever.
Germany protests because Count Bernstorff
was detained at Halifax Even Berlin must
chuckle when il recalls how Gerard was
treated