The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-26
GROUNDS FOR CONFIDENCE.


II probably can be said with truth that gen
orally throu ghout our country the idea prevails.
whether as a feeling, a belief or a conviction,
that Germany cannot win this war but must
give way at last and go down to defeat IN the
end. Perhaps one reason for this is found IN
the widespread recognition of the fact that she
is fighting for a system that blocks the course
! of racial evolutioIl-an institution which is
boulder in the path of human greatness that
must be blasted out of the way. If this is the
true conception of the matter, she is bathing
for lost cause. The stars in their course fight
against her, which seem TO have been an ancient
way of saying that failure was predetermined
and she was beaten when she began the war.
! There comes q time when things which have
served their purpose and outlived their use
fulness to mankind must so. When the feudal
system with its innumerahle petty despots and
its hories of robber chieftalns with power OF
life and death over It's subjects no longer met
need OF the people but did more harm than
good it made Way for the absolute monarchy.
And now the Disadvantages of autoeracy have
come to outweigh its eNcellencies 1t still does
some things well but is manifestly undesir
able on the whole, 1t is better for the
boy TO act mans part sometime and assume
the management OF his own affairs. even though
he makes serious mistakes than to remain IN
Eeaul0E eli his he II ID
better for the individual and collective evolu-
ton OF the people. when they reach certain
stage OF growth. that they should take their
governments into their own hands as the repub-
hes and Genocracies ere doing or have done.
So many intelligent and progressive peoples
rule as 70 force the conclusion that popular
government is necessary step upon the evo-
[ulonary path and that people so generally
efuea-ed and logical as the Germans cannot
long delay TO set their feet upon 1t. When to
these conditions are added the manifest evils
OF the autocratic system. how 1t is militaristic
OF necessity end must buttress itself with
auies and armament, and how its interests lie
II war whereas the interests of the people lie
III peace. it must, would seem. be evident
10 thoughtful persons that the governing castles
Of the central empires are waging a. losing fight
and were beaten. in the sense that defeat was
inevitable when they plunged the world into
war
Il seems TO many minds almost incredible
that Germany should have been able 10 win
most OF the successes and hold the world at
bav so long as she has It IS entirely e1plIc-j
able however. though that phase OF If need
not be considered now. The fact o. moment
Is that notwithstanding her notable achieve
Inenrs. and 10 matter what her present strength
NAV be. the feeling that IN the end she must
20 down and under has never weakened but
gains strength IN al the allied lands. She viii
go down because she ougnt 10 go down. Her
aims are inconsistent Nth human progress
Her methods are abhorent 10 humanity and
morality Their triumph would be subserTient
Of all that Is good: and sn epoch Is clearly open
ing when arrro-acies however useful III the
past and efficient for certain purposes In the
present. are no longer TO play leading roles on
4h. s*e oa NJ --,Tl1 st-air