Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-05
s@Sp
TO u MILITARISM

fore she steamed away yesterday, to the effect that President wilson
oes abroad determined against miGtarsm in any form, will be re-
ceiyed by the people of the country with a great deal of satisfaction.
it gives some idea, just and mixing, perhaps, of the Presidents pur
pose in ignoring the widespread disapproval of the trip and following
the dictates of his own mind as to what is his paramount duty.
Crushing Prussan mihtarsm is, after all, the greatest object to
be attained at the peace conference. And in crushing the Prussian
form of miitarism it is necessary to see that no other form is built
up. Information may have reached the President that mlitarism in
all its forms is not as nearly crushed as one might be lee to thmk, VINO
knowsY
We here in America, making up a great liberty, peaceloving ma
ton dominating the whole Western Hemisphere, cannot fully compre-
bend the suspicious and jealousies that have grown up through cen
turtles of wars and struggles among the nations OF Europe. History
shows that the alliances OF one war are often the bitterest enemies In
the next. The diplomats of the friendly nations enter a peace con-
ference with the best of intentions. but it would be strange, indeed,
if a treaty could be drawn that would be entirely satisfactory 10 III
The statesmen of the great powers today are still human. 1t would
be a most marvellous thing if, as friendly as they might outwardly
appear, there was not, deep down in someone S heart, some feeling that
somebody had put something over on somebody else. knowing his
tory so we'll, especially the history of Europe, it is hardly to be won
dered at if, even among the allies themselves, there turks a feeling
that all cannot be trusted; that, after al, it is best to be prepared for
eventualiies no matter how fair the promises are that may be made in
settling up this war.
{ The readiustment of boundary lines of nations is always a tick
lh proposition at best. With every readjustment there has been LETT
the seed for future strife. This is especially true in Europe where
there ire so many different races, each with its individual CUSTOMS
religion and language. 1t would not be surprising. therefore, II, now
that peace is in sight, those who were ready to agree to almost any
thing TO gain the victory, were inclined to forget some Of the things
they agreed to, or to place a different Interpretation on the meaning
of some of the things that were said under the extreme pressure ol
the moment when things were looking darkest.
Now it NAV be that President Wilson sees trouble ahead in this
regard and feels that nothing short of his presence at the council
table will avert a continuation of militarism in one form n another
even among the nations that are extremely friendly at present.
We all know of the wonderful personal magnetism of Mr.. Wilson.
There is something in his presence and the manner IN which ne pre-
sents his subject 60 those to whom he is speaking that sweeps away
all opposition, at least it invariably shences his critics, and % clearly
does he present his point of view and so logical are his arguments that
eve the NEST skeptcal becomes convinced and his ideas prevail.
When Senator Knox, in his effort to show his bitterness toward
the President, introduced a resolution in the senate tending to Tie
the Presidents hands at the peace conferenc, he set forth In the very
first paragraph of his resolution the one great purpose for tie Prcsr
"whereas, the United States of America entered the war with
Germany and Austria Hungary in order to vindicate the ancient
order to remove the German menace to our peace, . etc.
But the very first essential in removing the German menace to
are we if in crushing Prussian miitarism we permit the building up
of a worldwide miitarism in which we ourselves must enter If we
That President Wilson sees the danger there is no doubt. He has
told us in his recent address to congress that he goes to make good
what our soldiers offered their lives to obtain. That the crushing of
miitarism was the one great object of our entering the war is testt
field to by the soldiers themselves. In the New York Times this morn
American army of occupation, tells of the attitude OF the people Of
of Biburg he says: Hundreds asked the Americans why they had
come into the war and in their conversations overheard Americans
in cverycase tell them. to rid the world of Prussian mlitarism."
America has nothing else to gain in this war. Our motives are
admitted on every side to be ideal. 1t was a new kind of fighting. We
were endeavorng to make the world safe for democracy.
President Wilson, who first announced this principle, is determ-
ined that this one great principle shall not be ignored. He fully
realizes the dangers at a peace conference, after the fight is won, to
forget some of the ideals that were proclaimed during the fighting;
the tendency to gain all the advantage possible. He fully understands
the balance of power idea that has possessed the nation of Europe
for centuries. He goes to Europe today as the representative of the
real balance of power in any struggle that may take place hereafter,
and as such he has set face like flint against militarism.
The liberal minded leaders of Europe who fear the tendency to
lose what we have been fighting for in this regard, are extremely anx-
ious Tor the President to be on hand to personally direct the move
ment. The leaders of Europe, suspicious as they are of one another
cannot do it. Who, then, is more capable than the head of the great
republic Of the Wcst2
President Wilson has not seen fit to take his countrymen into his
confidence to any extent as to his trip abroad, but, as we have previ
ously stated, the country has come to have the utmost confidence in
him While regrettng his retcence, there may be good reason for it.
If he succeeds in putting the finish to miitarism in every form he will
have fully justified his trip and brought the greatest blessing not only
to the United States, but to the whole world.
With that final word from the departing George Washington the
nation can rest assured that, after all, the trip is we'll worth while.