Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-15
Friday, March IS, 1918.
"1hS Unmeited"

Since Germany began her campaign
against a pacific Russia there have
been appearing, here and there, let
tiers 10 the American newspapers from
Socialistic pacifists announcing their
conversion to the belief that this is
g righteous war on our part. The
other night there was a large meet
ing Of Socialists in New York for the
President and getting the Socialist
Executive Committee to meet and re-
eoind it's anti-war declaration. Mean
time such Socialist leaders as Norris
Hillquitt have had much less to say
about paci!ism and more about rescu-
ing Russia.
These things arc only straws. but
all the straws point in one direction.
As far as they go they indicate that
those Socialists and pacifists who have
been honestly wrong have been at
last enlightened by what happened to
Russia. These honestly wrong Social
lists have done as much harm as
those who were knowingly doing the
Kaiser's work. so that at times il has
been difficult for loyal Americans to
believe in their sincerity. and yet they
were no doubt sincere. They eX-
PEELED sucn men as Charles Edward
Russell from their party because he
had more sense than they had and
did not need the new Russian war to
teach him Gormany's purposes. How
ever. their dullnoss and pigheaded-
ness in the past will be forgotten II
they are really on tho American side
az last Philadelphia Press.
Isn't Il an observable fact that
Germany's bluff Of western front
drive" while she spectacularly pper-
ated east and north to quiet the up
rising at homo. has done more to
solidify sentiment in America than all
other influences combined? Can any
sane being longer doubt the result Of
the great conflict If Germany is per-
mit,ed to get away with" any part
OF the Prussian program?
r. not Americas job bigger and
palmer than 1t appeared "A month ago?
Did not the peace talk before a world
court cry5tallize conflicting opinions
into common belief?
with Odessa in German hands can
the most optimistic doubt that the Al
lies must demonstrate. beyond ques-
ton among the people OF the central
allies. their military superiority in the
west?
Can the Prusian forces be driven out
OF France and Belgium in this cam
paign? That is the big question, for
the German and Austrian people have
been given new hope by the winter
campaign in Russia. We hear no
more from Count Czcrnin-is he dead
or has the Austrian conscience been
smothered by promises of war profits?
Tho "attrtion" doctrine seems to
Vienna. What have the allies accom-
plished. or what can they accomplish
to offset recent developments, in the
minds OF tho people Of the central al
lies
SIX weeks ago the masses in central
Europe w"-c disheartcncd and on the
verge of revolt and collapse: can We
analyze their feelings under the new
hope?
That is the dark side of the picture
in dark time for world democracy
prospects. The prospective dawn is in
what the allies can show toward con-
vincing III, central powers that the
key to the future lies in the west
front, and that right there also lies
the power that will unmake all these
scraps OF paper arrangements which
Germany las forced upon war
weary. disorganized. bankrupt. fam
ne-threatened and helpless peoples.
The world awaits the move of the
entente allies.