The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-24
THAT SHARP AND WELL KEPT ARM

ON August "a, 1898. the car Of Russia invited all
~ The nations to an international peace conference at
The Hague 70 Discus program Of permanent peace
founded upon honor and justice TO all nations and guar
anleed By general disarmament and arbitration.
Most nations were pleased with this prospect for uni
veBal and permanent peace; their governments enthusiasts
ctly received the cars invitation and named delegates
% he conference Countless millions Of people carried
hth hopes. Peace foreyeT-war neveTl That was what
lhey taW. But not all. One saw it this way:
believe me- peace will never be better safe
guarded than by a perfectly organized and
prepared German army. God grant that II
may always be possible for US to preserve the
worlds peace with this sharp and well kept
arm"
That was what he German kaiser said in a speech at
Oynhauten two weeks after getting the cars peace nv
illiou.
A few weeks after the kaiser forced his Rechstag to
pass BIZ producing large increase for the maintenance
of ne German army That was his answer to the worlds
cg Coz peace 20 years ago. Not to help arrive at peace
program, but 10 hinder the work Of the conference the
kaiser appointed delegates to The Hague. Among them
was Count Munster notorious preacher of the gospel Of
Ne sword.
Germany is prepared for war" he said.
'as no other nation is or can be: she can mo
blliSe her army in 10 days; neither France
nor any other power can do this
On July %, 1899, tbs conference adjourned after
Count Munster had made speech in which he dealt the
death blow 10 al hope Of arbitration and disarmament.
Germany went on with her preparations for war while
other nations hoped for another and successful peace
conference Nothing came Of future peace meetings and
his world war grew out Of Germanys sharp and well
kept arm" Munster was right. Germany was we'll pre-
pared for war And If Germany is not defeated now her
.hap and well kept arm" will be sharper and better kept
han ever
Twenty years ago The kaiser well knew his sharp and
wen kept arm" was not to preserve the worlds peace He
knew why L was sharpened and 50 well kept He then
knew that he going 10 to smash to bits the peace
Of he world and attempt to ride mountains Of dead
ard rivers Of blood to the throne Of world dominion. That
WsI why his representative at The Hague dealt the death
blow 10 arbitration and disarmament.
h 20 years many things have happened That car
hts been swept Of his throne and into his grave. From
world Of peace we have come into world Of For
four yoart he kaiserS sharp and well kept arm bated
With he forces he opposed at The Hague And for a
link he made Roadway, not as much he dreamed Of
ana boosted be would achieve, but enough to APP
pIehehsion everywhere outside Germany and her allies
Thtn cane he tuning point Americans by the hundreds
81 thousands poured into the war German lines have been
turned backward They must go much further.
And hen will come another peace conference, and not
t 0tn But at this conference there can be Count
Munster 10 deal any death blow to anything There
b 10 hombaStc emperor to say. Believe me- peace will
never Be better safeguaTded than by perfectly organized
and prepared German amy"
% won't be for the kaiser to say what he will OF will not
d. He must do what those who have beaten his per.
itclly Organized and prepared German army" command
al and netting else. Il will be well for the conference