TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1917-03-03
WHAT WAR WILL
FOR US.


Just US in the life of individuals
honor must be maintained at any
cost, so in the life of nations. But
in either case the sentiment OF
honor must not be imaginary, for
the responsibility Is great and the
consequences appalling. 1t is the
characteristic mark OF savages that
they hate peace uhd love war.
Civilization looks upon war as a
fearful calamity, and it is the
boast OF our country that We
march at the head oil civilization.
These turbulent days put our love
OF peace and our desire to main
tain high standards OF morality to
the test. Our savages whom we
have always with us like all other
nations demand war on the plea
of humanity. They say that
American women have persisted
through German cruelty. Now the
truth is that the German govern
ment has taken extraordinary pre-
caution to save human lives. When
it announced the unrestricted
warfare, ample notice WAS gwen
with the request that ships and
men should stay out OF the zone
of war. ii this notice had been
needed no American would have
heen injured. The desire to prevent
the loss of human lives induced
the German government to open
up an absolute safe lane for pas
sengers. When, as the facts show,
Americans can travel safely and
they insist on choosing a dan
gerous route, it is not in keeping
with truth to say that Germany
willfully destroys American lives
and if We declare war it is we
who sacrifice lives, the lives of our
youth to fight in a cause that
has no justification in fact. Our
savages also speak of rights that
we are in honor bound to defend.
The President has originally
adopted a course which every
civilized being was bound to sp-
plaud. He admitted that England
violates our rights and he has sent
about a hundred protests to Lon
don against this ruthless invasion
of our rights. But he did not take
up the sword because In his
opinion, which was entirely correct,
normal conditions would be rest
ored at some time and that il was
wiser to let our rights adjust them.
selves through peace than to main
tain them by the shedding of hum
an blood and by a destructive
waste OF our resources. Now we
stand before the riddle which is
beyond our grasp that the Presid-
ent insists upon slaughter, by max
ing war on Germany, to vindicate !
those rights which he refrained from
asserting against Britain, and his
conduct is still more uninteiligible
when We consider that the quarrel
with Germany Is only about one
violation OF our rights while he
complains about hundred viola
tions on the part OF Great Britain.
II 1T was uncirilized to fight against
England II would be, on the Presid-
ents own statement, hundred
times more SO against Germany Our
savages try to overwhelm reason
and conscience by pretending that
the war Will benefit us. 1t will
destroy us. The allies are bank.
rupt and they are in need OF
many billions to carry on their
war. If We join them We can not
refuse to give them all they need.
They are starving from want OF
food. We can not refuse TO give
them our last loaf if We fight
with them. They need more men
and We can not refuse 10 send
them every mothers son to bleed
and die for whatf To aid Eng
land in maintaining her sea power,
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