The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-19

ually however, it began to dawn upon
US that we were contending with
code of ethics, the like OF which the
world has never seen. We had read
the boasts of the Prussian militarists
and had studied the philosophy Of the
German but it had not occurred ITO us
that any nation, calling itself civilized
would actually launch in cold blood, a
program of world domination. involy,
ing the abandonment Of all humani-
tartan principles and every restraint
OF common decency We simply could
not believe it and we rubbed our eyes
to make sure that were not dream
ing. We were not dreaming, however,
but face to face with a very stern
reality; and we now know that free
government, the world over, =, is at
stake and that the very, existence Of
the American republic is in jeopardy.
This is indeed new and astounding
situation and one demanding new. pol
sicies,, quick thinking, and prompt and
decisive action. Our house is really
on fire and the Prussiah .marauder
ffs,y-.i1, our midst with flaming torch
and drawn sword ready to- carry out
his work of destruction.
New Methods Demanded.
. obviously, new policies and new
methods are demanded by present
world conditions. The need OF them
to my mind is imperative, and yet
there are those who tell us that they
are not necessary and that we can
continue, to live in the old 'flintlock
age" They tell us that If we are
good we will be, unframed. China
has been very good hut she has been
looted by every brigand that ever APP
peared in oriental waters. Belgium
was good and yet she did not escape
destruction. Serbia's only offense was
that her. little. territory lay across the
German pathway from Hamburg to
the Persian Gulf Norway was law
abiding and yet her, merchant marine
now rests peacefully at the bottom OF
the sea. My friends, when the most
powerful military nation that the
world has ever see nsnaps her fingers
in contempt at all the conventions OF
civilized life and boldly declares her
intention to force her mAch-vaunted
kultur upon other nations, is it not
time for, us to follow the presidents
advice. and get into the war with all
our power and all our resources /
am not militarist and have no pa
tience with the code of the duellist
little respect for the man who will
flight, with. all the, resources at. his
command when the lives and hsppi!
ness Of his family are in. jeopardy
and the very existence OF his country
lis at stake. The Prussian has de-
lnanded "a place in the sun; he has
ordered all nations to get off the sea
and is now trying to make them '"get
off the earth IT he succeeds in this
modest undertaking all. other peoples
apparently will have to- be content
with the waters under the earth. All
OF which impels one to- ask, Upon
what, does this our. Caesar feed that
he has. grown so great?''. ~. (
r. ~ Our Fools Paradise. =. =.
h 'tSomeS Of us did live in a fools
paradise for a time prior to .l914.sWe
had convinced ourselves that wars
had ceased unto the ends, of the earth,
that, the bow. was broken, the spear
snapped asunder. We had it, all
burned: in, the fire. We had it all
T figured out to-. mathematical nicely.
We said that no great war could ever
occur again, because ~
':1.-The engines Of !: destruction
were so terrible that whole nations
would be speedily annihilated
/ '2.-That the commercial interests
of the world would not tolerate war.
"3.-That sufficient /, money could
mot be obtained to finance war for
any considerable length of time. + !.
"4.-That the socialists and labor
unions the world over were opposed
to war. z, +
"5.-That mo king or other ruler
would be so wicked and cruel as to
bring such a terrible calamity upon
his people, and
,,-"6.-That the people of the world
were so far advanced in civilization
that the barbarisnl of war was no lon
ger. possible. Ns%>.,S*
Nov, as abstract reasoning, all this
seemed very plausible, but since the
very thing happened in 1914, which
could not. possibly happen, isn't>sit
about time to apply the discount sheet
to abstract reasoning? Isn't it about
time for us, and prudent men, to
throw some reasonable and practical