The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-07
By Lord Sydenham)


 The war may be and has been claimed as a triumph for democracy since the Central Powers, represent ing autocracy, were at length beaten to their knees. It was fought, ac- cordtng to MT. Wilson, to make this world safe for democracy, and there can be no doubt that democratic ideals were the inspiring cause which held the Allies together and made them willing to endure unparalleled sacrifices to attain their common ob- jectS. The historian of the future will perhaps examine the relative eff ficiency of democracy and autocracy from the point of view of the conduct of war, and he will not ignore the fact that the most autocratic power in Europe saved the Allies in the early stages of the mighty conflict. If Russia had been unable or un- willing to strike hard at the outset. and if the Germans had been secure on their Eastern frontier, France might have been overwhelmed.
 The autocratic power may, there fore, be said to have saved a situa- ton which, but for its action, might have been lost. On the other hand, the doom of the Central Powers and of their satellites was sealed when the immense weight of the great de- mocracy of the West was thrown in to the scale.
 Democratic Forces in the War
 Democracy professes to ensure that national action shall be determined by the will of the people. Another inter esting field of inqury is the extent to which democratic forces in this sense played a part in the world war Germany had for years been deliber- ateIy prepared for "the day" which was to usher in world dominion and wealth unlimited, to be garnered from the spells of conquered Flu rope. The will of her people had been determined for them by their Prussian rulers, and in August 1914, that will was unquesttonably in fa- vor of war; but it's evident spontane- ity was the result of the sustained tuition of an al-powerfuI government inspired by and subservient to the Hohenzollern dynasty.
 For the French people, wantonly attacked, there was only the alterna- tive of effacement or fighting, and their shining patriotism and splendid traditions made the choice certain For us, if France was to be saved and the war won, an instant decision was vital. Posterity may learn how the war party in the Cabinet, which rightly judged that the violation of Belgian neutrality would strongly ap- peal to the whole British natian, tri- unphed just in time.
 Our Maritime Instincts
 Yet it may fairly be stated that the popular will did play part in win ming the war, for two reasons. The ingrained instincts of 8 great mari time nation, with glorious naval tradt- tfons had before 1914 sufficed to safe guard the building and the mainten- ance of the finest navy we ever pos sessed. Whether the politicians, who almost up to the declaration of wal had sought to cut down our maya strength, would have prevailed if "the day" had been postponed, we cannot tell; but MT. Churchill, on his ap- pointment to the Admiralty, became aware of the instincts of the masses and bent to what he believed to be the national will. The British navy alone made victory possible, and in spite of grave defects in the superior direction during the earlier stages of the war-defects for which we paid dearly-it has never in its wonder