The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-09-19
Why We Fight
Bsesuss Csranan Loot Of Cosquest
Msnscss in Many Ways Our
Very National Existence
BY CLARENCE l.. SPEED
Secretary OF the War Committee OF the
Union League Club OF Chicago.

mt war with Germany, mentioned In
previous articles OF this series, would
be sufficient justification for this
ton taking up arms. Only extreme
patience, coupled, often. with complete
failure to recognize the seriousness OF
the German menace to America aud
the world, kept the United States out
Of the war for nearly three years be-
fore 1t finally decided to Join In. In
fact justification for war with Ger
many existed years before the conflict
In Europe was begun.
II has been shown that Germany,
for years. had been plotting within our
became citizens and at the same time
remain faithful to the kaiser. She
filed our land with spies and agents
Of disorganization 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 500 as Ger
many felt herself strong enough to
make a 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 vas being
reserved for dessert was all the more
reason why we should enter the war
while a 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 a 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
superfiuous.
The military party In Germany start.
ed the war because II believed the timo
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 trentier
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. 1t 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 w before
known In modern history, gave further
evidence that the world was not safe
as long as such q government existed
In II.
Then came Germany's conduct on
the sea. With her battlefield craveniy
seeking shelter behind the defenses Of
the Kiel canal, Germany sent out her
submarines and began a war on I'M
armed merchantmen. Women and chil'
dren were her victims. American citi'
zens by the score went down to death
on the Lusitania. The United States
made a protest, and Germany promised
to mend her ways. This she did. fol
a time. until she could build u feet OF
bigger and better submarines, and ther
her pirate sea warfare broke out with
fresh vigor. How could we keep out
Of war when Germany, after ruthlessly
killing our citizens, deliberately closed
the sea to us3
German plotters and spies, undel
the direct leadership Of the German
ambassador to this country. WORKED
almost openly, blowing up industrial
plants. sinking ships In our harbors
and menac!ng railroads and canals.
Germany, spurred by successes
openly began to plans FOL
disciplining the United States. Sh,
scoffed at the Monroe doctrine. ant
tried to create a German state II
Brazil which, In time would be stronl
enough to bring about a revolution ant
overthrow democratic government
there.
BY her huge ornaments, her disre
gard Of treaties. and her evident re
lance on force alone, Germany wal
rapidly making the world an unsaf'
place In which to live, forcing all 9th
er nations to adopt the military sya
TEN, or be at her mercy.
The German ambition TO force Ger
man kultur oil the remainder Of tn,
world was well exploited. Kultur. d
the German mind, was not what cul
ture Is to rs. II was the whole Get
man system, Of government. Of com
mercialism and Of life. There wa
no place for democracy In a worl'
which bore the stamp Of German kul
tur. II we valued our form OF govern
ment, we had to go to war.
Tine fight which England and Franc
took up from the beginning. and Il