Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-20
HUMANITY, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND
OUR OWN SELF-PROTECTION
ALL DEMAND THAT WE
COMPEL PEACE AND END
THE WOE OF THE
WORLD.
lConLInued from pago l.l

object OF preventing this country
from competing With England for
the trade OF Asia, Africa and South
America, and with France, Italy and
Russia for any share of the trade OF
continental Europe.
They would, in this way, pay off
their enormous war debts by reduc-
ing the peoples of Central Europe to
dCstitution and by imposing econ
omic taxes upon the neutral States
OF Europe and upon our country and
the South American republics.
Having destroyed the Industrial
and commercial competition OF Ger
many-which was peaccably winning
the markets OF the worldly arms
and bloody warfare, they will next
turn their attention to destroying
the Industrial and commercial com
petition OF the United States in the
worlds markets by preferential
agreements and economic warfare.
And that process win lead US even
tually into Just such a war with them
as the tremendous war they have
made upon Germany, with the OBJ
iect, as they now openly admit, Of
destroying Germany and the COM
mercial competition OF German skin,
industry, science and organization.
II the allies succeed in destroying
the Central Empires and establishing
the hegemony of Russia over Europe
and the undisputed dominion of Eng
land over the seas, then we are as
sure to have to fight this combina-
tion for our rights and for our very
national existence as the sun is sure
to rise tomorrow morning.
We have no words to express our
amazement at the insane folly and
the blind, laundering stupidity of
those American newspapers and
American public men who are delib
erately doing all they can to bring
our own country to the door Of such
a sure catastrophe.
If the allies do succeed in destroy
ing tho Central Empires and in plac-
ing Russia astride subWgated and
exhausted Europe, then one of two
eventualities win come to pass while
most of us are yet alive.
Either England will have to gather
up what Is left of Germany. Austria
and Hungary and fight Russia and
Japan for the integrity Of China and
India and Egypt and the election Of
Russia from Constantinople and Ga
licia and the Balkans; Or
The United States will have to
fight Russia and Japan, abetted and
supplied by England, in defense of
our sea rights. our commerce with
China. our possessions in the Pacific
and the integrity of the Monroe
Doctrine.
Instead Of establishing permanent
peace in the world. the programme
of conquest and division of spoils set
forth in the allies reply to President
Wilson makes another great war in
the near future not only probable
but ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to
the reasonable freedom of all the
nations not included in this gigantic
coalition TO conquer and divide
Europe, Asia, Africa and the seas.
And since we arc the only power
full obstacle in the way; and since
our huge wealth would be spoil
which makes the looting of Germany
and Austria look insignificant, and
since our industrial skill and pro-
ductive capacity threaten TO become
rs powerfully competitive with Eng
land in the worlds markets as was
German skill, productiveness and
enterprise, the whole weight Of the
naval and military alliance engaged
in the destruction of German indus
try and competition would inevitably
be hurled against us as the next
move in the game.
II we do not argue whether the
allies or.the reutons were most will
inE 10 fight, or most anxious to over
run Belgium first, or whether the in
evitable cruelties of warfare have
been committed more frequently by
Teutonic soldiery or by allied sol
diery; or II we do not dispute over
the relative merits of executing spies
and franc-tireurs. both male and fe-
male, as done by allies and Teutons
alike; or pay any attention to the
endless rccrimination which drags
rs duh and stupid length through
the partisan press and through di-
plonlatic speeches and documents, it
is because we have a profound con-
viction that all such twaddle hinders
reasonable and useful thinking and
discussion.
Not what has been done or what
should have been done, but WHAT
OUGHT NOW TO BE DONE, is tho
only question which should engage
the thought OF sensible and patriotic
men.
And not what Is most advantag-
eous to Germany or to England or
to Russia or to France or to Austria
or to Italy, but only WHAT WILL
BE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO
OUR OWN COUNTRY. ought to busy
the time and the thoughts Of sens
ible and patriotic Americans
We stand, nilly-willy, in the midst
Of gigantic events. in times full OF
present troubles and dangers, at the
open door OF times fuller OF greater
troubles and more menacing dangers.
And the American who puts his
n,l.a, nnlaniru,n rnn.iln nnd larnl,lninu a