Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-08-22
Why We Fight
Becsuse Cermsn Lust of Conquest
Menaoes in Many Ways Our
Very National Existence
By CLARENCE L SPEED
aacretary Of the War Committee OF the
Union League Club OF Chicago.

BY CLARENCE L. SPEED
Secretary Of the War COMMITTEES Of the
Union League Club OF Chicago.
Any one Of the reasons why we are
1t war with Germany, mentioned In
previous articles Of this series, would
be sufficient justification for this ma
ton taking up arms. Only extreme
patience, coupled, often, with complete
failure to recognize the seriousness OF |
the German menace to America and
the world, kept the United States out
Of the war for nearly three years be
fore 1t finally decidedN ITO join in. In
fact justification for war with Ger
many existed years before the conflict
In Europe was begun.
It has been shown that Germany.
for years, had been plotting within our
borders. encouraging immigrants to
became citizens and at the same time
remain faithful to the kaiser. She
filed our land with spies and agents
of DISCRIMINATION when, to all out,
ward appearances. relations between
America and Germany, were Of the
most friendly character.
From evidence supplied BY the Ger.
mans themselves, it has been shown
that Germany's doctrine that might
alone is right would menace the very
independence Of the United States just
as surely as it destroyed that of Ser
bia and Belgium, just as soon as Ger
many felt herself strong enough to
make formal attack. German lust
Of conquest knew no bounds.
Events of the last year have proven
that Germany, having split the world
in half by her creation of Mitteleu.
ropa, extending from the Baltic almost
to the Persian gulf, was planning to
devour the halves separately. The fact
that our half Of the world was being
reserved for dessert was all the more
reason why we should enter the wal
while part, at least, of the other halt
was still making resistance.
Finally, when the collapse Of Russis
revealed the fact that Germany wal
fighting, not war of self-preserva.
ton, but one Of conquest pure and
simple, and that the freedom of thu
entire world was menaced, any Ques
! ton of why we are fighting seemed
superfluous.
The military party in Germany start
ed the war because 1t believed the tint
ripe for conquest.
Proof that ambition, and not consid
Grafton Of it's own safety, prompted
Germany to begin the war Is given by
the fact that Serbia and Belgium, two
helpless little nations, NWete the frs
/ attacked.
Germany had under no compulsion
signed solemn treaty to protect thu
neutrality of Belgium. When she
branded this treaty "a scrap Of paper
she gave proof that all her treatiel
would be SO considered when her in
terests demanded. In other words
Germany's invasion Of Belgium mean
the tearing up of every treaty which
existed between Germany and othe
nations. It was ample justification TO
America going to war at that moment
!; This did not spur America at tn
time, but Germany's cruelties in Bel
GUM, surprising anything ever befor
known in modern history, gave furthe
evidence that the world was not SAT
as long as such government existe
in it.
, Then came Germany's conduct o.
, the sea. With her battlefield cravenl
seeking shelter behind the defenses Q
the Kiel canal, Germany sent out he
submarines and began war on un
armed merchantmen. Women and chi
dren were her victims. American cit
zens by the score went down to deaf
on the Lusitania. The United State
' made protest, and Germany promise
, to mend her ways. This she did, fo
a time, until she could build feet q
:. bigger and better submarines, and the
her pirate sea warfare broke out wit
fresh vigor. How could we keep ou
J. of war when Germany, after ruthlessl
killing our citizens, deliberately close
the sea to us?
German plotters and spies, unde
the direct leadership Of the Germa
g ambassador to this country, worke
almost openly, blowing up industris
: plants, sinking ships in our harbor
n and menacing railroads and canals.
!, Germany, spurred by successes
f openly began to announce plans fc
j, disciplining the United States. Sh
a.. scoffed at the Monroe doctrine, an
tried to create German state l
! Brazil which, in time would be stron
: enough to bring about a revolution an
{ overthrow democratic governmer
there.
s By her huge ornaments, her disr,
gard Of treaties, and her evident n
= lance on force alone, Germany wa
= rapidly making the world an unsaf
place in which to live, forcing all oil
> er nations to adopt the military sy
: TEN, or be at her mercy.
The German ambition to force Gel
man kultur on the remainder of til
world was well exploited. Kultur, I
y the German mind, was not what Gu
,e ture is to us. It was the whole &c
4 man system, Of government, Of con
IL mercialism and of life. There we
no place for democracy in worl
: which bore the stamp of German ku
1 tur. II we valued our form of govern
IN ment, we had to go to war.
e, The fight which England and Franc
g, took up from the beginning. and
" which Belgium and Serbia laid dow
"a their lives, was Americas fight frol
! the first, and Americas fight long b.
fore 1t began, had America but rea
q lied. Now America does dealize. an