Denver labor bulletin., 1918-07-27

SIdHceS ieduiiiS " lhe cuhoPSoh VIII
flagration, but the situation which
drove our own country into the war
is of even greater interest.
There is no question but what it
was Germany's plan to draw the
United States into the war, because
certainly she could not have expected
us to keep out, in view of her re-
peated insults. Germany has never
been really friendly with the United
States in recent years. This was
clearly shown in the Spanish war,
back in 1898, when war between the
two countries was barely averted; and
again, over the building Of the Pana-
ma canal; and still again, in their
stand in South American politics,
when the United States took a legiti-
mate interest there. When we look
back upon the situation now, the only
remarkable feature is that we did
not feel it necessary to enter the war
before; but a peace-loving nation is
not so easily stirred by events that
may possibly be explained away.
Many think we should have declaret
war before, but there is one feature
about our coming in later, as we did.
that is consoling, and that is that al.
| fuOSt ever OuC tilCi ICaAiLCo thdt We
were forced into it, and that it could
and should not be averted.
In dealing with the causes of war
there are always the direct and the
indirect causes, and of the two, the
indirect are usually the more inter-
esting, as they are the more compre-
hensive and appalling. The direct
causes of the war show the imme-
date justification; the indirect causes
the inevitability of the war and I'M
der-handedness of our national enemy.
Parenthetically, here we must recog-
nize once for all that altho we were
freedom from England, she is our nat
ural mother and ally, and has shown
her colors true blue in all her diplo-
matte dealings with this country.
France is our ally in spirit and in
truth, for she was the first country of
size to follow the United States in
its form of democratic government,
while her whole-hearted assistance to
this country in time of need has placed
US in everlasting debt to her. Rus
STA, too, is in the throes of democracy,
in actuality; while Italy, with her
fight Of self-defense against Austria;
Belgium, with her heroic stand that
assures her a place in the hearts of
all free men forever; Servia, Monte
negro and Roumania, weak but with
the right ideal-all of these are our
sisters, and members of democracy's
great family. While Germany, what
of her? She has as her allies Tur-
key, in all its barbarity and cruelty;
Bulgaria, in all it's greed and shame;
Austria, deceived and ambitious; the
ideas of all four the same, with their
10 fhaiv fhofr IN
tai lack of honor. Therefore we must
conclude that the man who says that
Germany is our natural friend, or that
we are indebted to her for anything
of value, is not worthy of the name
of American. The hyphen in his char
acter blots out the American blood.
What then first, briefly, were the
direct causes of the war with Amer
lea? The sinking of the Lusitania, in
May, 1915, when LA innocent Ameri-
cans went down, first stirred the coun-
try. This unprecedented affair was
followed at once by a demand for ex-
PLANTATION from the German govern
ment, which brought forth an evasive
answer, designed to postpone a direct
clash until she could build more sub
marines to carry out her dastardly
wishes. In May, 1916, Germany, still
under false colors, stated that neutral
ships would not be molested "inten-
tionally," altho since the Lusitania
she had sunk the White Satr liner
the Arabic-the Sussex, the Hesper-
ian, and fired upon the Nebraskan and
others. Then, following Wholesale
ternal preparations, on January 81
1917, Germany suddenly openly an
nounced her future policy of ruth
less submarine warfare, and outlined
the barred zone and the striped
paint" to be used by American ships.
Germany's submarines were built
she was ready to have America de-
clare war. Immediately she sunk the
Housatonic, an American ship, with
out warning. This was followed,
after President Wilson had recon-
spinking of the Laconia, the Illinois,
the Aztec and the unarmed steamer
"Missourian," all without warning. 1t
was evident to President Wilson and
the American people that this was
the policy Of Germany, and that our
EARNED neutrality" was insufficient,
and upon April 6, 1917, war was for
mally declared upon Germany. His
tory shows these acts of hostility
any one of which was wholly suffi-
cient to bring war-as the direct
causes Of our war with Germany.
Certainly, with these repeated out
RACES there could no longer be any
thing but war. Germany's policy was
unmistakable, and was to go from bad
to worse until halt was called.
Now as to the indirect causes con-
corning Germany's diplomacy, in
which we are particularly interested.
Probably the most outstanding was
Germany's attempt to incite Mexico
against the United States. by prom