The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-11-08
The PENDULUM.

Cheer up. It's coming. When the
tide runs low with disappointment and
the realization of worst fears, the
chances are that it is near the turning.
1t is so in the life of the individual; 1t is
so throughout the whole world.
The war news has verified it. Not
the accounts of battles, but the tenn
per, the tone, the spirits of the people,
have risen and fallen as If lifted or
depressed together by some gigantic
seismic oscillation. Sometimes these
Citations and depressions are directly
accounted for by happenings at the
front; oftener they surge and ebb in
obedience to their own inner impulse.
War was declared. Nation after
nation became involved The estab-
lished order seemed about to be en-
quilted. Panic reigned. The end of
the world was freely predicted. But
no, the reaction came, and without ap-
parent cause. The war would soon be
over. Great civilized people would
find way. out. There would be a
military demonstration ard then an
appeal to The Hague. They would all
be back home when the leaves dropped.
But the Germans fell with crashing
force on Belgium. All the pent-up
energies of years of preparation were
let loose. Belgium wayered and
crumpled up. Big Berthas and pois-
onous gas were innovations. The world
had never heard of such warfare.
France fell back before 1t.
But England was coming. England
was great and powerful. Surely Eng
land would stem the tide. No England,
too was powerless. England had but
few troops and no equipment compar-
able to that of the Germans. The Ger
mans would overrun western Europe.
They would make the Atlantic a Teu-
tonic pond
Then came the Marine. Then Yer
dun. Germany was talking peace. 1t
would be all oyer before another win
ter. Wen have the boys out of the
trenches before Christmas. And then
the deadlock. 1t might last forever.
Russia began a campaign. Maybe
the Russian hordes would end it. But
how the Russians could run! Their
guns were but sticks in their hands.
Their war Office had proved false to
them. Munitions were lacking. No
use to count on Russia. But Italy had
the blood of the Romans. Italy would
smash Austria, already discouraged.
There would be an early peace. The
west front was holding. The decision
was at hand. Then Mackensen. Good
night. Italy. And there we are.
The fluctuations of the fortunes of
war are but ripples compared with the
tides. that rise and fall in the great
common, human heart. For all life is
one. The breast of man rises and falls:
his heart throbs in ceaseless rhythm.
and with like periodiclty his courage
rises and falls as if drawn by the vary
ing attractions of hope and despair.
Some dav we shall know more of this.
The primal causes now are hidden.
This much is significant. Man has his
tiny being in the midst of immensities.
He is but the dust mote caught from
the air and tossed for the time upon
the infinite pillows of ocean. The whole
limitless universe beats and throbs with
measuIless power. A million suns tug
at each other across the imensities. Our
own petty solar system is athrob with
power that swells and GIBBS from its
heart. the orb of day. Our earth speck
whirls about its sun, in the grip of