The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-18
l..

Economic, political, moral, even racial
causes have been assigned for this gen.
eral war But there is one issue which
dominates all others: 1t is fight to the
death Of two regimes, military despotism
and democracy.
All the history of humanity since the
close Of the eighteenth century is filed
with the conflict between these two con-
ceptions Of life. 1t is necessary to recall
how this conflict had its birth, how it de-
veloped and what were the tragic &C
compartments of it.
Democracy, animated with the passion
for liberty and the desire for peace among
men, was menaeed toward the end of the
eighteenth century by imperialist nations
OR sovereigns. 1t triumphed in North
America and in France. 1t proclaimed
its principles in the United States In 1776
and 1887; in France in 1889 and later.
Napoleon Ignored Boundaries.
NBut after the great French victories
and the confiscation of the Revolution of
Napoleon the principles of democracy
were more and more constantly violated.
Napoleon annexed territories without con-
sulting their populations and passed be-
yond natural boundaries, such as the Alps
and the Rhine. He went far beyond what
the state of Europe made possible and
thus prepared general reaction, which
attained the proportions of another rev0-
lutbn.
The great Powers, aristocratic and
feudal, meeting together at the Congress
Of Vienna in 1915, divided a mass of ter
ritory without a thought of souls. For
them there was no right between nations.
@What has international right to do
here!' asked a Prussian plenipotentiary.
The expedieneies of Europe are the
right" another proclaimed brutally.
Utter arbitrariness had the force of law.
Belgium was joined to Holland and Nor
way to Sweden without the consent of
their populations. The Rhine lands, from
Cologne TO Treves, 10 Sarrelouis and Sar-
rebruck, found themselves handed over TO
Prussia despite their social and religious
traditions.
Poland was cut up once more accord
ing TO the interests and capriees of the
dividing Powers, and Warsaw, indiffer-
ent, passed like any simple object of ex-
change from Prussia to Russia. Milan
and Venetia were split up for the benefit
of Austria, who even under the ancient
regime had not been SO well endowed.
No justice; no thought of the liberty of
nations; the most cynical materialism
brooded over territories, crushing souls;
the brutal triumph Of might. ''These
are the mobiles who have conquered cried
German after Waterloo. In fact the
ancient regime was reestablished every
where.
Despotism on Top in 1850
The struggle between democracy and
military despotism continued after 1915.
Democracy appeared TO triumph several
times, in 1880 and 1S4S; but after these
attempts at weakening the ancient meth
DDS despotism in 1850 again resumed com
plctc control.
Disconnected for a moment in 1889 and
1850 by the liberation of Italy and the
formation of new nation founded upon
the will of the people, it became prepon-
derant in the relations between peoples
in 1864 by the conquest of the Danish
duchies, invaded by three German armies
end raised into petty State; in 1866 by
the seizure of Hanover and its duchies by
Prussia; finally in 1871 by the annexing
20 the German Empire of Alsace aud half
OF Lorraine.
This last was not simply violation OF