The Topeka state journal. [volume], October 10, 1914, HOME EDITION, Image 15

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

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WHAT
THE- AL
From what we have so far considered,
two things are evident. First it is
quite clear that in the world, as it is
at this moment situated, it is literally
criminal, literally a crime against the
nation, not to be adequately and thor
oughly prepared in advance, so as to
guard ourselves and hold our own in
war. We should have a much better
army than at present, including espe
cially a far larger reserve upon which
to draw in time of war. We should
have first-class fortifications, espe
cially on the canal and in Hawaii. Most
important of all, we should not only
have a good navy, but should have it
continually exercised in maneuvering.
At present our navy does not begin to
have the maneuvering in fleet forma
tion indispensable to its efficiency.
Of all the lessons hitherto taught by
the war, the most essential for us to
take to heart is that taught by the
catastrophe that has befallen Belgium.
One side of this catastrophe, one lesson
taught by Belgium's case, is the im
mense gain in the self-respect of a
people that has dared to fight heroic
ally in the face of certain disaster ana
possible defeat. Every Belgian through
out the world carries his head higher
Bow than he has ever carried it before,
because of the proof of virile strength
that his people have given. In the
world at large there is not the slightest
interest concerning Luxemburg's ulti
mate fate; there is nothing more than
amusement as to the discussion
whether Japan or Germany is most to
blame in connection with the infringe
ment of Chinese neutrality. This is be
cause neither China nor Luxemburg
has been able and willing effectively to
stand for her own rights. At this mo
ment Luxemburg is enjoying "peace
the peace of death. But Belgium has
stood for her own rights. She has
shown heroism, courage, and self-sacrifice,
and great though the penalty
the ultimate reward will be greater
still. , j
If ever this country is attacked ana
drawn into war as Belgium, through
no fault of her own. was drawn into
war, I hope most earnestly that she
will emulate Belgium's courage, and
this she cannot do, unless she is pre
pared. In one point, as I have already
stated, I very earnestly hope that she
will go beyond Belgium. If any great
city, such as New York or San Fran
cisco Boston or Seattle, is held for
ransom by a foreign foe. I earnestly
hope that Americans, within the city
and without, will insist that not one
dollar of ransome shall be paid, and
will gladly acquisce in the absolute
destruction of the city, by fire or in
any other manner, rather than see a
dollar paid into the war chest of our
foes for the further prosecution of the
war against us. Napoleon, the Great
made many regions pay for their own
conquest and the conquest of the
nations to which they belonged. But
Spain and Russia would not pay, and
BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT
III. The Ultimate Causes of the War and the Need of Their Removal to
Prevent a Repetition of This Same Avful Tragedy.
the burning of Moscow and the defense
of Saragossa marked the two great
stages in the turn of the tide against
him. The prime lesson of this war
is that no nation can preserve its own
self-respect, or the good-will of other
nations, unless it keeps itself ready to
exact justice from others, precisely a
it should keep Itself eager and willing
to do justice to others. .
The second lesson is the utter In
adequacy of existing peace and neu
trality treaties, and of all treaties con
ceived in the spirit of the all-inclusive
arbitration treaties recently adopted
at Washington; and, in fact, of all
treaties which do not put potential
force behind the treaty, which do not
create some kind of international po
lice power to stand behind interna
tional sense of right as expressed in
some competent tribunal.
It now remains to consider whether
there is not and I believe there is
some method which will bring nearer
the day when international war of the
kind hitherto waged and now waging
between nations shall be relegated to
that tfast which contains the kind of
private war that was habitually waged
between individuals up to the end of
the middle ages. By degrees the work
of a national police has been substi
tuted for the exercise of the right of
private war. The growth of sentiment
in favor of peace within each nation
accomplished little until an effective
police force was put back of the senti
ment. There are a few communities
where such a police force is almost
non-existent, although always latent
in the shape of a sheriff's posse or
something of that kind. In all big
communities, however, in all big cities,
law is observed, innocent and law
abiding and peaceful people are pro
tected and the disorderly and violent
classes prevented from a riot of mis
chief and wrong-doing, only by the
presence of an efficient police force.
Some analogous international police
force must be created if war between
nations is to be minimized as war
between individuals has been minim
ized. It is, of course, essential that, if
this end is to be accomplished, we
shall face facts with the understand
ing of what they really signify. Not
the slightest good Is done by hysteri
cal outcries for a peace which would
consecrate wrong or leave wrongs un
redressed. Little or nothing would be
gained by a peace which merely-
stopped this war for the moment and
left untouched all the causes that
have brought it about. A peace which
left the wrongs of Belgium unre
dressed, which did not leave her in
dependent and secured against fur
ther wrong-doing,' and which did not
provide measures hereafter to safe
guard all peaceful nations against
suffering the fate that Belgium has
suffered, would probably be mifchiev
ous rather than beneficial In Its ulti
mate effects. It Is perfectly possible
to . take the view that, . as conditions
now are, Germany, from the stand
point of the preservation of her na
tional life, may have felt it necessity
to act as she did toward Belgium, and
yet also to take the view - that Bel
gium has been terribly wronged, and
that the civilized world owes it to t
self to see that this wrong is redressed
and that steps are taken which will
guarantee that hereafter conditions
shall not be permitted to become such
as either to require or to permit such
action. Surely all good and honest
men who are lovers of peace and who
do not use the great words "Love of
Peace" to cloak their own folly and
timidity must agree that peace is to
be made the handmaiden of right
eousness, or else that it is worthless.
England's attitude in going to war
in defense of Belgium's rights, accord
ing to its guarantee, was not only strict
ly proper, but represents the only kind
of action that ever will make a neu
trality treaty or peace treaty or arbi
tration treaty worth the paper on which
it is written. The published dispatches
of the British government, show that
Sir Edward Grey clearly, emphatically
and scrupulously declined to commit
his government to war until it became
Imperative to do so if Great Britain
was ti fulfill, as her honor and interest
alike demanded, her engagements on
behalf of the neutrality of Belgium. Of
coruse, as far as Great Britain is con
cerned, she would not be honorably jus
tified in making peace unless this ob
ject of her going to war was achieved.
The case of Belgium in this war stands
by itself. As regards all the other
powers, it is not only possible to make
out a real case in favor of each nation
on each side, but it is also quite possi
ble to show that, under existing condi
tions, each nation was driven by its
vital interests to do what it did.
The real nature of the problem we
have ahead of us can only be grasped if
this attitude of the several powers is
thoroughly understood. To paint the
kaiser as a devil, merely bent on grati
fying' a wicked thirst for bloodshed, is
an absurdity, and worse than an ab
surdity. I believe that history will de
clare that the kaiser acted in conform
ity with the feelings of the German
people, and as he sincerely believed the
interests of his people demanded; and,
as so often before in his personal and
family life, he and his family have
given honorable proof that they pos
sess the qualities that are characteris
tic of the German people. Every one of
his sons went to war, not nominally,
but to face every danger and hardship.
Two of his sons hastily married the
girls to whom they were betrothed, and
immediately afterwards left for the
front. .
This was a fresh illustration of one
of the most striking features of the out
break of the war in Germany. In tens
of thousands of cases, the officers and
enlisted men, who were engaged, mar
ried immediately before starting for
the front. In many of the churches,
there were long queues of brides wait
ing for the ceremony, so as to enable
their lovers to marry them juBt before
they responded to the order that meant
that they might have to sacrifice every
thing, including life, for the nation. A
nation that shows such a spirit is as
suredly a great nation. The efficiency
of the German organization, the results
of the German preparation in advance,
were strikingly shown in the powerful
forward movement of the first six
weeks of the war. Not only is this or
ganization, this preparedness, highly
creditable to Germany, but even more
creditable Is the spirit lying behind the
organization. The men and women of
Germany, from the highest to the low
est, have shown a splendid patriotism
and abnegation of self. In reading of
their attitude, it is impossible not to
feel a thrill of admiration for the stern
courage and lofty disinterestedness
which this great crisis laid bare In the
souls of the people. I most earnestly
hope that we Americans, if tver the
need may arise, will show similar
qualities.
It is idle to say that this is not a
people's war. The intensity of convic
tion in the righteousness of their sev
eral causes shown by the several peo
ples is a prime factor for considera
tion, if we are to take efficient means
to try to prevent a repetition of this in
credible world tragedy. History may
decide in any war that .one or the other
party was wrong and yet also decide
that the highest qualities and powers
of the human eoul were shown by that
party. We here in the United States
have now grown practically to accept
this view as regards our own Civil war,
and we feel an equal pride in the high
devotion to the right, as it was given
each man to see the right, shown alike
by the men who wore the blue and the
men who wore the gray.
The English feel that In this war they
fight not only for themselves but for
principle, for justice, for civilisation,
for a real and lasting; world peace.
Great Britain is backed by the great
free democracies that under her flag
have grown up in Canada, in Austra
lia, In South Africa. She feels that she
stands for the liberties and rights of
weak nations everywhere. One of the
most striking features of the war is
the way in which the varied peoples of
India have sprung to arms to defend
the British Empire.
The Russians regard the welfare of
tneir whole people as at stake. The
Russian Liberals believe that success
for Russia means an end of militarism
in Europe. They believe that the Pole,
the Jew, the Finn, the man of the Cau
casus, will each and all be enfranchised,
that the advance of justice and right
in Russia will be immeasurably fur
thered by the triumph of the Russian
people in this contest, and that the con
flict was essential, not .only to Russian
national life but to the growth of free
dom and justice within her boundaries.
The people of Germany believe that
they are engaged primarily in a fight
for life of the Teuton against the Slav,
of civilization against what they regard
as a vast menacing flood of barbarism.
They went to war because they believed
the war was an absolute necessitv. not
merely to German well-being but to
German national existence. They sin
cerely feel that the nations of western
Europe are traitors to the cause of Oc
cidental civilization, and that they
themselves are fighting, each man for
his own hearthstone, for his own wife
and children, and all for the future
existence of the generations yet to
come.
The French feel with passionate con
viction that this is the last stand of
France, and that if she does not now
succeed ana is again trampled uner
foot, her people will lose for all time
their place in the forefront of that
great moaern civilisation of which the
debt to France is literally incalculable.
Of Austria and Hungary, of Servia
and Montenegro, exactly the same is
true.
To each of these peoples, the war
seems a crusade against threatening
wrong, and each man fervently be
lieves in the justice of his cause.
Moreover, each combatant fights
with that terrible determination to
destroy the opponent which springs'
from fear. It is not the fear which
any one of these powers has Inspired
that offers the difficult problem. It is
the fear which each of them genuine
ly feels. Russia believes that a quart
er of the Slav people will be trodden
under the heel of the Germans, un
less she succeeds. France and Eng
land believe that their very existence
depends on the' destruction of the
German' menace. Germany believes
that unless she can so cripple, and, if
possible, destroy her western foes, as
to make them harmless In the future,
she will be unable hereafter to pro
tect herself against the mighty Slav
people on her eastern boundary and
will be reduced to a condition of in
ternational impotence. - Some of her
leaders may be influenced by worse
motives; but the motives above given
are, I believe, those that Influence the
great mass of Germans, and these are
in their essence merely the motives of
patriotism, of devotion to one's peo
ple and one s native land. ' -
We nations who are outside ought
to recognize both the reality of this
fear felt by each nation for others.
together with the real justification for
its existence. Yet we can not sym
pathize with that fear-borne anger
which- would vent itself in the anni
hilation of the conquered. The right
attitude is to limit militarism, to de
stroy the menace of militarism, but
to preserve the national integrity of
each nation. The contestants are the
great civilized peoples of Europe and
Asia. Japan's part in the war has
been slight. She has in this contest
borne herself with scrupulous regard
not only to the rights but to the feel
ings of the people of the United
States; and from all questions of the
politics of this generation and possibly
even of the next generation, and
looking at matters from the stand
point of the ages. Japan's progress
should be welcomed by every enlight
ened friend of humanity because of
the promise it contains for the regen
eration of Asia. All that is necessary
in order to remove every particle of
apprehension caused by this progress is
to do what ought to be done in refer
ence to her no less than in reference
to European and American powers,
namely, to develop a world policy
which shall guarantee each nation
against any menace that might other
wise be held for it in the growth and
progress of another nation.
The destruction of Russia Is not
thinkable, but if it 'were, it would be
a most frightful calamity. The Slavs
are a young people, of limitless possi
bilities, which from various causes
have not been able to develop as rap
idlv as the peoples of central and
western Europe. They have grown
in civilization until their further ad
vance has become something greatly
to be desired, because it will be a fac
tor of immense importance In the wet-
fare of the world. All that is neces
sary is for Russia to throw aside the
spirit of absolutism developed In ber
during the centuries of Mongol domin
ion. She will then be found doing'
what no other race can do and what .
it is of peculiar advantage to the Eng
lish speaking peoples that she should
do. -. -
As for crushing Germany or crip-'
pling her and reducing her to politi
cal impotence, such an action would
be a disaster to mankind. .The Ger
mans are not merely our brothers: ,
they are largely ourselves. The debt
we owe to German blood is great; the
debt we owe to German thought and
to German example, not only In gov
ernmental administration but In all
the practical work of life. Is even
arreater. Every cenerous heart, and .
every far-seeing mind throughout the
world should rejoice in the existence
of a stable, united and powerful Ger
many, too strong to fear aggression
and too just to be a source of fear to -Its
neighbors.
As for France, she has occupied. In
the modern world, a position as .
unique as Greece in the world of an- .
tiquity. To have her broken or cowed V
wuuld mean a loss today as great as
the loss that was suffered by the world ;
when the creative genius of the Greek
passed away with his loss of political ;
power and material greatness. The
world cannot spare France. - ;
Now the danger to each of these
great and splendid civilizations arises
far more from the fear that each reels .
than from the fear that each inspires. ,
Belgium s case stands apart. She in-
snlrcrl nn fear. No neace should be
made until her wrongs have' been re
dressed, and the likelihood of the
repetition of such wrongs provided
against. She has sueffred incredibly
because the fear among ' tfce plain
German people, among the Socialists
for instance, of the combined strength
of France and Russia made them ac
quiesce in and support the policy of
the military party, which was to dis
regard the laws of international mor
ality and the plain and. simple rights
of the Belgian people.
It is idle merely to make speeches
and write essays against this fear,
because at present the fear has a real
basis. At present each nation has
cause for the fear it feels. -Each na
tion has cause to believe that its na
tional life is In peril unless It Is able
to take the national life of one or
more of its foes or at least hopelessly
cripple inai ioe. ina causes oi ins
fear must be removed or, no matter
what peace may be patched up today
or what new treaties may be negoti
ated tomorrow.' these - causes will at
some future day. bring out the same
results, bring about a repetition of
this same awful tragedy. (Copyright,
1914, by the Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.)
BOWSER WEARS THE GRAVE
But Is Drawn Back by an Klcctrlc
Battery.
cold in the head. If you are ailing I
can't sleep for my anxiety, but if you
knew that I was standing on the verge
of the grave you'd fling out some in
sult or other."
"Well, you had your blood tested,"
she quietly answered.
va t AA Viii lrnnw hnw T've
When Mr. Bowser left the office he been rundown for the last year, and I
hart under his arm a snug package I wanted to know just what ailed me. It
that he had purchased during the day.
r, a n handled it with loving care.
He began as soon as seated in the
car to work up a doleful expression of
countenance, and he succeedea so well
that a motherly woman turned to him
and asked: .,
"Are you a man of family, sir 7
"Then you have your wife make you
some catnip tea as soon as you get
home'"
And a man across the ais'.e almost
shouted out: ,
"Catnip tea for .him? Why it's got
to be something stronger than that.
He was out playing poker last night
and lost seven dollars. Don't I know
the signs?"
However, there was a pretty fair
look of I-am-bound-for-the-grave on
his face as he reached home, and he
sighed like a tired horse as he climbed
the steps. To his great astonishment
Mrs. Bowser ignored both the look and
the sigh, and continued to treat him
during the dinner hour like one who
had 150 years of life before him.
when thv went ud to the sitting-
room he neither read nor smoked, but
prowled around until sne tooK pity on
him and asked:
"Have you got some worry on your
mind this evening?"
"Some folks might call it worry."
he replied.
"Well, let's hear it."
"It's that I've had my blood tested
today by a doctor who happened to
drop into my office, and it was a good
thing I did. Another week and it
might have been too late."
"Too late for what?" queried Mrs.
Bowser.
"To late to save my life. That is. I
should have had to go to the hospital
and be operated on for cancer of the
stomach. I Just caught it in time."
"It was very lucky that some quack
came in with something to w!l."
"Quack! Quack!" shouted Mr. Bow
ser, as he jumped up and got mad in
a breath. "That's you exactly! Tou
can't be happy unless you are ringing
in something about quacks and lads
and fakirs about once a week. It has
got so that I dread to even tell you
that I ve got a corn on my toe or a
didn't take the doctor . over five minr
utes to find hat my system needed
elctriclty. For the want of electricity
my blood Is turning into water."
"And so you have bought a battery,
of course?"
f mm W 1J CfcQty-
Absolutely Puro
Mad from
CrcpoGrccrncfTcrtcr
t:o Auur.1
TELL
"Yes, I've bought a battery.'
"Of the doctor who found your blood
was turning to water?
"wny not? He happened to have
one with him, and why shouldn't I
buy it?"
"No reason at all, my dear. ' I sup
pose It is on the hall-tree, and that
you intend taking a treatment right
away? I think you had better. I
once knew a man who's blood turned
to water and he went insane and died.
I have heard that electricity restored
youtn. .remaps it will work that way
in your case.
Mr. Bowser looked at her for a long
minute without being ab'e to make up
his mind whether she was guying or
in earnest, but being unable to detect
a smile on her face he finally brought
in his battery. It was a simnle af
fair, which was set in operation by a
spring, and he soon had it in working
order. When the current bezan mak
ing Itself felt in his hands and arms
he grew good-natured and blandly
said:
"This is worth all the medicine I
could pour down my throat In a year!
Our family doctor has been dosing
and doping me for months without
avail, because he didn't know what
ailed me. It never occurred to him
to test my blood. Ah um! Say, that
aoes me good!"
"I suppose it restores certain
properties to the blood?" eagerly ob
served Mrs. Bowser.
"roars what it does. What my
blood lacks is phosphates. Tou must
fertilize the blood the same as you
would the soil. By George, but I feel
it clear up to my ears! I honestly be
lieve that one single treatment will
carry me back fifteen or twentr Years.
Tou know that when Pliny was eighty
years old he used electricity and
joined a football club."
"Well, there will be no more drag
ging after tonight. On the contrary,
I'll be bounding up four steps at a.
time. When I get through you'd bet
ter take a treatment. There's nothing
like taking time by the forelock. The
subtle fluid has not been permeating
my system above five minutes, and
yet I feel as If I could jump over a
six-rail fence." c
For the next .three minutes Mr.
Bowser leaned back and closed his
eyes and had a lamblike look on his
face. Then the monotonous whirr of
the battery suddenly changed to a
series of gasps as if for breath, and
he straightened up with a yell and be
gan to beat his heels on the floor.
"What on earth's the matter!" ex
claimed Mrs. Bowser as she reached
over and turned the spring to shut the
current off.
"The blamed thing got away some
how!" he gasped, as he let the han
dles fall. "The doctor said something
about induction, and I guess that was
it. Perhaps I've got enough in my
arms. For a few seconds I thought it
would pull every tooth out of my
head. Say, now, but before I try it on
my legs I'll experiment a little on the
cat."
"But you may scare her to death."
'She won't scare for a cent. Say, it
will be a good thing for her. She's been
growing lean and scrawny for the last
month, and electricity may be just what
she needs. Her blood may need phos
phates as well as mine. Is the cook
home?" ..'.
"Yes, but don't you go experimenting
on her. If she got a shock she'd bring
a lawsuit for damages!"
'And why don't you try it?"
'Because I don't need it. If that thing
runs away again it may tie you up in
knots. It was lucky I happened to be
here to turn the spring."
"Well, we'll see how it will work on
the cat. Even if her blood is not im
poverished she needs toning up. Come
here, puss."
The family cate came over to him
without hesitation, and as she reached
his feet he started the battery and
clapped a sponge to each of her sides.
For about thirty seconds the cat
humped her back, rolled her eyes, and
wondered. over the new sensation. Then
she seemed to get the idea that she was
being attacked by other cats, and that
it was to be a fight for her life. Her
first spring carried her on Mr. Bowser's
knees, and the next to the top of his
head, and the sudden attack rolled him
out of his chair upon the floor. He
yelled and the cat squealed. He pound
ed at her and she clawed. The fight
was over In a minute, with the cat
shooting ustairs to hide under the bed,
but in those sixty seconds Mr. Bowser
had received a dozen bites and a score
of scratches. He scrambled up with
the blood flowing from his wounds and
his dignity all torn up the back, and
his first act was to dash the battery to
the floor ana jump on it with both feet.
His next was to yell at Mrs. Bowser:
Woman, 1 11 wreck this house from
cellar to garret! You knew all the
time"
But Mrs. Bowser wasn't there. She
had followed the cat upstairs. His first
thought was to rush after her, but as
he reached the stairs he paused with a
new idea. Murder would not satisfy his
thirst. .
"Woman, hear me!" he called. "To
morrow morning my lawyer your
lawyer-rdivorce no alimony, and you
and your blamed old cat may starve in
the' streets and die in the poorhouse!"
(Copyright. 1914, by the McClure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
During the preparation for battle Pat
emerged from his tent wearing his uni
form hind side before. This soon at
tracted the attention of his superior offi
cer, who demanded an explanation. Pat
scratched his head and seemed loath to
comply, but finally replied, with a sheep
ish grin: "Well, begorra. Oi thot if Oi
wore it this way, thin when Oi had to re
trate Oi wouldn't get shot in the back."
Life.
" . .
Last Sunday this Nation gave a remarkable
answer to the appeal of President Wilson.
In every Church Prayers for Universal Peace
were offered to the great Father of us aU.
The Prayer-spirit of last Sunday did every
body good.
Why not cultivate the
Prayer-habit?
Why not live the Prayer-life?
The Church urges you to Prayer for self and
for others. The self Prayer means the
Social Prayer.
It will do you good to go to Church and Pray.
A Prayer-life will make a Larger Life.
Try it and see!
Go to Church Sunday
F
"I never heard of it, but I hope It
will street you favorablv. I have no
ticed lately that you drag your legs
K YtUKD ANO tHB -T SyvJEftifO
i in going upstairs."