New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-29
low Americas Press Received Wars Challenge in 1914

get, indeed! About nothing does the mob
forget so quickly as about war. The Partisan
| crowd is crying out to-day A Berlin' as
if the same madness had not filled the streets
of Paris in 1870, with what rayage and
humiliation to follow others have not for
gotten, even if the French mob has. And
the way in which the war fever has seized
upon Berlin seems equally to call for the
service, not of physician, but of an alien
list. If one looked only at these surface
manifestations he would be tempted to con-
clude that Europe was about to become ore
gigantic madhouse.
Fortunately for modern civilization, there
are responsible statesmen who know that
they must disregard the wild howlings OF a
street mob 1t is from them that We must
look for both words and acts of truth and
soberness. . . 1t is a great opportunity
for the farseeing and high minded statesman.
Especially of the German Emperor must
one feel that the present crisis affords a
splendid chance to do a mighty service TO
humanity. His strategic position and that
of his empire are such that it is within the
power of the Kaiser to make the voice of
reason heard. He has repeatedly expressed
the wish that his reign might be free from
war. To no one more clearly than to him
must it be evident that Germany owes her
enormous advances during the past genera
ton to the triumphant methods of peace.
And to-day the world will be looking TO him
with almost breathless interest, in the hope
that he may cooperate in the heartiest way
and use his great prestige and influence
in every effort to prevent an insensate rush
into a war that would shock all Eurore.
THE World" summed things up in this
fashion:
"The instinct Of self-preservation, if no
higher motive, should prompt the allies of
Austria and the allies of Russia to play the
part of peacemakers in the present emer-
gency. That in all the years of their exist
encc the Triple Entente and the Triple Al
lance have maintained peace, in spite Of
ever recurring jealouses and antagonisms
between their individual members, is proof
of the restraining influence they exercise.
"The very size Of the ornaments that have
been bro gnt INTO DelNg, Ine mllllOnS upon
millions of men that would be summoned to
bear arms, the ruinous cost of Continental
war, are points to have a SOLDERING effect
upon the councils of Europe whenever the
question of war or peace is in the bal
ance.
"The statesmen who hold the reins of gov
eminent in Berlin, Paris and London cannot
afford TO rush into war from maudlin senti-
mentalism; they must calculate how much
each nation stands to win or lose, how much
blood and treasure must be sacrificed and
how for better or worse a general European
war will affect every part of the state and
empire with whose interests they are
charged.
"The stakes are too enormous, the Issue
of the game too uncertain, for civilized Eu-
rope, if it is in possession of its senses, 10
risk its future wellbeing at the caprice of
military gamblers"
On August "The World" believed:
Germany has run amuck. There is no
other explanation of the Kaiser's policy in
forcing a general European war.