Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-31
FRIDAY. MAY 81, 1918
The Folly of War.

The ewes OF the world arc concentrated
upon the western war front IN Europe,
where the armies of the Allies are now re-
sisting the latest German assault. On
both sides there are casualties men dead
and men wounded And what the result
will be is vet to be determined.
But when we sit down TO a careful con-
sideration of the situation what must be
the natural conclusion ms to the horrible
conditions that now cover the war field
in Europe? What, We may ask, Is the use
OF this dreadful war?
And we NAV truthfully reply: Nothing
1t NAV be set down rs an accepted TACT
that there was never any reason in all the
world for the terrible conflict that Is now
waging SO desperately in Europe
We have had wars in the past that
seemed iustifiable Our Revolutionary
war was of this kind, because it was
essential to severance OF our colonial
relations with the mother country, Eng
land. which had become unbearable
Our Civil War, between North and South.
seemed unavoidable. but We can now see
how that bloody conflict could have been
avoided bv a measure Of compromise that
would have resulted in the abolition OF
slavery. with compensation to those who
then held, and believed they had a right
to hold, human beings as chattcI>
But for this terrible war in Europe
which has continued its devastating
course for nearly four years, there can be-
no possible excuse. 1t is, TO speak etfec
lively, although ungramma,Ically. the
most causeless' war OF all history There
was not the slightest occasion for itS
starting. Germany had no real reason for
opening her campaign.
The cause OF this war may justly Toe laid
to the imperious belief OF the German
government, belief that has been preach
ed for wears into the minds Of tho Ger
man people, that the Imperial German
government was ordained by he Almighty
to be the ruler Of the earth. That was the
impression which was encouraged IN the
minds of German people, cvoI since the
successful ending OF their war With France,
in 1871 And their success in that combat
served to enlarge IN their minds the be-
lief that Germany should be the ruler Of
the world
1t is not possible to conceive, by ref
erence to the facts that led to the war,
that Germany had any real cause for tax
ing up arms against the rest of Europe.
The assassination of the crown prince Of
Austria-Hungary was seized upon as a
pretext for Germany's anger, but It was
not the slightest provocatlon for way.
Germany, however, imperious in her
impression of power, insisted upon the
incident as cause for war, and when
Russia naturally decided TO side with
Serbia IN her resistance 70 German
aggression, at once launched her armed
forces into the conflict. For forty years
she had been building up military
establishment for this very purpose, and
gladly welcomed the miserable pretext
upon which she based her right to go TO
war How she violated international |
obligations by her invasion Of Belgium,
in order to quickly get at France, is well |
known history.
But all of these preiminaries, all Of the |
horrid events that have since occurred. !
should go TO impress the folly Of war.
Why should nations oppose each other by !
f~~r.o ,ro rrns9 FT'kora e Z
any two citizens fighting each other. If |
they disagree, they may 90 their separate |
ways without coming to blows And |
should it not be the same with nations? |
If they cannot automatically agree NAV
they not go their respective ways in peace? |
And what does it say for our more than
five thousand years of so-caIled civiliza-
ton, and our twenty centuries of so-called |
that we have today the |
bloodiest, most savage, most brutal war
the world ever has seen? The most |
atrocious of wars of the past have been
exceeded by the excuses of the brutal
German hordes in this war The rest of
the world stands appalled, at their I'M
speakable savagery.
But nothing that is presented by the
can avail to belittle the course
of our government in taking a part in
this war. We were driven into it. We /
stood by while many insults were cast
upon us as nation, and only when
patience ceased to be virtue" did we
take an open hand in the actual war.
We have simply done our duty as a right
eous nation, and we will do it to the end.
And we may hope that the enamities Of |
the horrid conflict may direct the minds |
Of the people OF the entire world to the |
necessity of avoiding war hereafter
But, meanwhile, we must defeat Ger |
many. That vicious war beast must be |