The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-19
Why We Fight
2aaanse Cerman Lose q Co0QoooG
Asoaess II Missy Ways Oar
Very Nsfisaal kxisssnss
BY CLARENCE L SPEED
s.cresary Of the War Conmittee e u
Union League Cub OF Chicago

BY CLARENCE L. SPkEO
sse7ss: n,an 4 q. w Gsus os & cssssse
ANY one Of the reasons Why Ne are
NJ var with Germany. menhoneo IN
preyious articles Of this series. would
h sufacient justification for this sna-,
lion taking up arms Only extreme
nattence. coupled, Otter. with complete
failure 70 recognise the seriousness Of
the German menace to America ano
the world, kept the United States ous
q the war for nearly three years %
fore Il anally decided to Join In. In
fact justification for war with Ger
many existed ysars before the ceomcs
n Europe was begun
II has been shown that Germany,
Tor years, had been plotting within our
borders, encouraging immigrants 70
became citizens and at the same nms
remain faithful to ths kaiser. Sne
alled our land with spies and agents
II disorzanixation when, to all cut
ward appearances. relations between
America and Germany. Ws1e Ct ths
most friendly character.
From evidence supplied By the Ger
mans themselves, 1t has been shown
that Germany's doctrine that might
alone u right would menace the very
Independence Of the United States Juss
40 surely as II destroyed that OF Ser
bia and Belgium. just ~ soon n Ger
many felt herself strong enough to
make q 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 q Aitteleu'
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 was beinl
reserved for dessert was all the more
reason why va should enter the wal
while q part, at least, Of the other hall
was still making resistance.
Finally, when the collapse Of Russis
revealed the fact that Germany wa
fighting, not q war Of self-preserva'
ton, but ono Of conquest pure and
simple, and that the freedom Of the
entire world was menaced. any ques
ton Of why we are lighting seemed
superduous.
The military party In Germany start
ed the war because it believed the time
ripe for conquest.
Proof that ambition, and not consid'
GRAFTON Of its own safety. prompted
Germany to begin the war II given by
the fact that Serbia and Belgium. two
helpless little nations. were the drst
attacked.
Germany had under no compulsion,
signed solemn treaty to protect the
neutrality Of Belgium. When she
branded this treaty "a scrap Of paper. !"
she gave proof that all her treaties
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. It was ample justification fol
America going to war at that moment
This did not spur America at the
time, but Germany's cruelties in Bel.
GUM. surprising anything ever before
known In modern history, gave further
evidence that the world was not safe
40 long as such government existed
in 1t. s =a.. ..e.s.l-. ~. - ..E-
Then came Germany's conduct on
the sea. With her battlefield cravenly
seeking shelter behind the defenses OF
the Kiel canal, Germany sent out her
submarines and began . war on un.
armed merchantmen. Women and chill.
dren were her victims. American citi.
Gems by the score went down to death
hc ~ hn
made q protest, and Germany promised
tn mend her ways. This she did, for
4 time, until she could build q feet Of
bigger and better submarines, and then
her pirate sea warfare broke out with
fresh vigor. How could we keep ont
Of war when Germany, after ruthlessly
killing our citizens. deliberately closed
the sea to us7
German plotters and spies, under
the direct leadership Of the German
ambassador to this country. worked
almost openly. blowing up Industrial
plants, sinking ships In our harbors,
and menacing railroads and canals.
Germany, spurred BY successes,
openly began to announce plans for
disciplining the United States. She
sconed at the Monroe doctrine, and
tried to create q German state In
Brazil which. In time would be strong
enough to bring about revolution and
overthrow democratic government
there.
4 BY her huge ornaments. her disre.
gard Of treaties, and her evident "a.
lance on force alone, Germany was
rapidly making tho world an unsafe
place in which to live. forcing al 9th.
er nations to adopt the military syu.
tenn, or at her mercy.
The German ambition to force Gees
man kultur on the remainder Of the
world was well exploited. Kultur, 60
The German mind. was not what cul.
suro ID to %. It was the whole Ger.
~