Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-21

l OF Hess friendly CnafaCLer SkotCn. i NJ
author said, "If there is anything
George Creel likes better than having
an enemy 1t is to have two Of them.
AMERICAS ADVANTAGE
| In the prosecution of the way there
is difference between America ant
England in what may be termed oppo
sition to the administration and tha
| difference is decidedly in this coun
try's favor.
In England the line is drawn be
| tween the Lloyd George administra
ton, or government, as it is called
there, and the AsQuith- Lansdowne fac
ton; Lloyd George personifies 'aggres
siveness In the prosecution Of the wal
! while Asquith and his followers are
paciists. Lloyd George is for fighting
/ through to victorious finish and EN-
! ploying any lawful means to that end
Mr.. AsQuith and Lord Lansdowne tall
OF peace by negotiation.
/ The proposal to apply conscr1pttor
to Ireland is meeting with ugly opposf
ton there and in parliament, and the
British government finds itself heavily
! handicapped in this controversy by Its
record on the home rule issue. Ire
| land has waited long for home rule and
has had it practically within her grasp
only to lose 1t. Now she is so intent
on opposing CONSUMPTION that even the
promise Of home rule does not quiet
her protests.
In America the pacifists are confined
almost entirely to the ranks Of the 30
cialists, whose disloyal attitude has
brought them into disrepute. Only one
member Of congress Of sufficient prom
inence to claim a following has es
sayed the pacifist role and he has drop
ped out Of the public eye and almost
out of the ken of the public mind. Mr.
Bryan's early pacifsm has been ex
changed for loyal attitude in support
| Of the administration.
Opposition to the selective conscrfp
| ton law is a chara cteristic Of the same
pacifist, socialistic class in this coun
! try There is, Of course, no parallel
here for the Irish situation in either
Of its phases.
In America the natural political, par.
tisan division does not apply to the
war policy. Members of both parties
in and out of congress, favor an ag
gressive prosecution of the war, and
the only differences Of opinion arise
over the question Of how that is best
| to be obtained.
Unanimity of purpose and spirit is the
american characteristic which is com
mented upon most prominently by Off
cials and spokesmen Of the allies. On
! this they depend to large degree
overlooking the occasional errors, the
temporary setbacks and the parliament
tary quarrels which occur here
Thistis Americas big advantage IN
comparison with either Great Brit
ain or France. 1t holds good in a com.
parison with Italy, although there the
pacifists are not particularly promin
ent in public life nor in governmental
pacifist sort brought disaster to
Cadorna's armies last year. It Is &C
tive among Italy's people now, and
every possible effort to Fcounteract II
is being made by the government.
Americas interests will be best
served and her moral influence on the
war spirit OF the allied peoplesswiu re.
main strong while her paramount aim
is kept before all our people and OUT
governmental officials. Differences
will arise and debates will grow spin.
fled; even the lightning Of such storms
as have occurred over the war depart.
ment and the aircraft fiasco serve to
clear the air If the opposing forces do
not lose sight Of the main business be-
fore the government and the country
prosecution of Tho war with "force to
the utmost" as the president phrases
n without diminution of strength until
a victorious peace shall be won.