If Prof. Troeltsch represents any considerable body of German sentiment the note he sounds is an encouraging one. Every country has its yellow journals, its pot-house strategists, and its writing-desk statesmen, who are fond of elaborating pompous theories and showing their bravery by delivering hard words instead of hard knocks. Perhaps a good deal of the quoted literature that comes out of Germany voicing hated and arrogant purpose of world-domination originates with the bombastic Philistines described by the Professor, and not from the real representative men of the nation. If so, when peace comes to be seriously discussed it may be possible to agree upon terms that will not be repugnant to our Christian civilization.
WAR, BUT NOT FAMINE
In allegory and history war is usually associated with famine. But fortunately in this otherwise awful conflict there is so far no general famine. There are of course sporadic instances of local suffering from lack of food in war-devasted regions, but the belligerent nations, as entities, seem to have ample supplies. It is officially declared that Germany has ample stores of food, and that the promise of the current year’s harvest is bounteous. It is the same with Austria and Russia. France and England have ample food from homegrown products and importations. The outlook is for enormous crop yields in both the United States and Canada. There seems to be ample ability in the warring countries to take care of the harvests by the labor of the men not at the front, supplemented by the labor of prisoners of war and of the women and children. The setting of prisoners of war to work in the fields is not inhuman. On the contrary, it is very often a mercy to the prisoners.
Pestilence also is the usual accompaniment of war. There are reports of pestilence from various quarters, but modern science has shown itself able to battle with disease and prevent any widespread devastation from it.
STRIKES IN WAR TIME
Reports of an impending strike in the Krupp works of Germany were followed by reports of the probable universal application of martial law. It is not probable that any serious strike will be allowed in Germany. No nation at war can afford to permit extensive strikes on the part of its industrial population. It is not improbable that Great Britain will be obliged to follow the example of Germany in suppressing strikes with the strong hand. When a nation is fighting for its life it cannot permit any class or section of its people to imperil the independence of the country and the safety of its population by pursuing a selfish class interest to the point of paralyzing a vital industry.
AN INTERESTING FORECAST
General and former Judge Roger A. Pryor, who commanded a Confederate brigade during the Civil War, recently indulged in some war predictions after premising that “it is foolish to prophecy.” He expected the fall of Warsaw, and then that the Germans would conclude a separate peace with Russia. France would come next for the same treatment. Then England would be left to face things. Judge Pryor added:
“Is England an old empire that has reached the stage that ended the history of Greece and Rome? Perhaps not. Perhaps it is not destined to go yet, and at the hands of Germany.
“But whatever happens, I think the end of this thing they call militarism will come. Whoever triumphs, the people, even of the victorious country, will demand that the nations’ means be devoted to humanity rather than war. The people are paying for this war. They are losing most, and they know it.