The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-27

tons be based on the democratic prin-
ciple.
IF the world, divided into four or
five alliances, each bristling with pay
onets. must organize from top to DOT
tom for war and live in constant sus.
picion and hatred, breathing the air OF
intrigue and sharp practice, theh
democracy cannot last: then demo-
cratic nations must put on the fuli
armor and carry the poisoned arrows
of autocracy; for where, under these
conditions, are freedom and fulness
of companionship? About one-ilalf OF
democracy consists in giving the other
fellow his fair chance; that is the SAT-
of democracy, and If the salt lose lts
SAVIOR, wherewith shall it be salteds
Not from Berlin!"
Professor McLaughlon is OF the
opinion that, had we not entered the
war and had Germany been victorious
we should have been in peril. He de-
clares, ave came to see that German
success in the war meant attack, per
haps immediate attack, upon our
selves. A thoroughly triumphant Ger
many almost surely imperiled US.
Again, this danger may seem some
what fantastic to anyone who has not
carefully read, watched. and STUDIED
during the last three and half years
But Germany's need Of 1ndemnites 10
replenish her resources would at least
conceivaibly tempt victory-orunh
government to pounce upon our coast
cities. We came within the scope OF
German world-politics. But even II
we were not Immediately warred up
on, no one can seriously suppose that
successful pan-Germany, stretching
from the North sea where she today
holds Norway, Denmark, and Holland
by fear, and holds Belgium in her icy
grip, down to and across the Bos-
phorus and over Asia Minor-no once
can seriously suppose that that nation
would suddenly become peaceful and
law-abiding and be willing to live de-
Gently with other nations, when she
has ilesitated at nothing odious in her
war Of conquest and has trampled on
the rights of distant nations like our
selves"
Submarine warfare" declares Pro
fessor Mclaughlin, us, not to put too
fine a gloss on it, piracy, a return to
the golden age of the ocean highway
man. The seas belong to no nation
or to no body OF highwaymen; their
waters are free to the nations of the
earth: no nation can calmly say, This
stretch of the ocean Is my fighting
area'-what the German war officials
called 8. 'war-zone'-if you or yours
come with it, my torpedoes will blow
you out of the water The right OF
blockade and that OF search to en-
force blockade or to seize contrabant
constitute the only legally acknowl-
edged exceptions to the principles of
the neutrality of the seas. Noncom-
batants travelling on merchantmen
have the right to travel without fear
of death at the nose of submarine"
Professor McLaughlin's article
takes up in detail the fundamental
causes of the war. He holds Germany
directly responsible for precipitating
the whole war. AS the chief causes
for Americas entrance into the war
he gives the following: Cd Germany
her pledges in the con-
duct Of the war; (2) Germany flung
aside internationa law: 60 Germany
pursued policy Of terrorizing on the
high seas; a. Germany filled our land
with spies; (5) Germany menaced our
safety; (6) Germany threatened the
Monroe doctrine; "a Germany made
the world unsafe for democracy; go
Germany's conduct and principles con-
flict with any plan Of world-organiza-
ton for peace.