The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-06-18
Why We Fight
bsesuss Cssmss Last oi Cosqusse
Msasees II May Ways Our
Ven NatioaaI Rxistsnes
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED
Secretary OF the War Committee OF the
Union League Club Of Chicago.

" patience. coupled. often. with complet
81 failure TO recognize the seriousness O
20 the German menace to America an
the world. kept the United States ou
81 Of the war for nearly three years BE-
fore 1t finally decided to join in. Il
fact justification for war with Ger
many existed years before the confiic
y In Europe was begun.
1t has been shown that Germany
: for years. had been plotting within oul
borders, encouraging immigrants I,
became citizens and at the same time
remain faithful to the kaiser. She
filed our land with spies and agents
Of disorgani-ation 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, ii 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 1t destroyed that OF Ser.
bia and Belgium. just as soon as Ger.
many felt herself strong enough 10
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 a 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 half
was still making resistance.
Finally, when the collapse OF Russia
revealed the fact that Germany was
fighting. not war of self-preserva.
ton. but one Of conquest pure and
simple, and that the freedom Of the
entire world was menaced, any ques-
ton of why We are fighting seemed
superfuous.
The military party In Germany start.
ed the war because 1t believed the time
ripe for conquest.
Proof that ambition, and not consid.
GRAFTON of its own safety, prompted
Germany to begin the war Is given by
the fact that Serbia and Belgium. two
helpless little nations, were the first
attacked.
Germany had under no compulsion,
signed a solemn treaty to protect the
neutrality of Belgium. When she
branded this treaty "a scrap OF paper"
she gave proof that all her. treaties
would be so considered when her In. .
terests demanded. In other words, .
Germany's invasion OF Belgium meant |
the tearing up of every treaty which
existed between Germany and other
nations. II was ample justification for
America going to war at that moment.
This did not spur America at the
time. but Germany's cruelties In Bel.
GUM, surprising anything ever before
known In modern history, gave further u
evidence that the world was not safe II
as long as such a government existed s.
In IL.
Then came Germany's conduct on
the sea. With her battlefieet cravenly "
seeking shelter behind the defenses Of a
the kiel canal. Germany sent out her IN
submarines and began war on un. n
armed merchantmen. Women and chill, =.
dren were her victims. American citi.
zens by the score went down to death %
on the Lusitania. The United States u
made protest. and Germany promised fc
to mend her ways. This she did. for te
a time, until she could build feet Of n
bigger and better submarines. and then
her pirate sea warfare broke out with
fresh vigor. How could we keep out
VI war when Germany. after ruthlessly c
killing our citizens. deliberately closed ri
'he sea 10 usf
German plotters and spies. under
the direct leadership of the German
ambassador to this country. worked :
almost openly. blowing up industrial
plants. sinking ships In our harbors
and menacing railroads and canals.
Germany. spurred by successes
openly began TO announce plans for
the United States. She
scoffed at the Monroe doctrine. and
tried to create n German state In
Brazil which. In time would be strong
enough to bring about a revolution and
overthrow democratic government
here.
By her huge armaments. her disre
gard OF treaties. and her evident re
lance on force alone. Germany was
ppidly making the world an unsafe
place in which 10 live. forcing all 9th
r. nations 20 adopt the military sys
EN-. or be at her mercy.
The German ambition TO force Ger
nan kultur on the remainder Of th<
rorld was well exploited. Kultur. ID
he German mind. was not what cuh
ure II to ua Il was the whole Ger
nan system. Of government. Of com
nercialism and Of life. There wal
10 place for democracy In a world
rhich bore the stamp Of German kul
ur. II we valued our form Of govern
nent. we had TO 60 to war.
The fight which England and France
COX up from the beginning. and IN
rhich Belgium and Serbia laid down
heir lives. was Americas fight from
he first. and Americas fight long be
ore II began. had America but real
red Now America does dealize. and
Imerica cannot and viii not make