Tue Poricies oF THE VARIOUS NATIONS involved in 
the European strife are now apparent and the outcome 
is aS uncertain as ever. It is evident that Germany made 
a bold, swift dash over neutral Belgium territory for the 
triple purpose of transferring the battlefields from Ger- 
man to some other soil, of obtaining an easy access into 
France, and eventually Paris, through Belgium, and to 
strike a heavy blow in the east before the Russian armies 
mobilized in the west. Austria has maintained its of- 
fensive operations on Servia with determined effort to 
thwart the Russian advance into Germany if possible. 
England is determined to protect its own shores against 
a German menace in Belgium and to maintain her supre- 
macy upon the high seas. This is only possible as Ger- 
many’s ambitions are checked. Russia has greedy eyes 
on Constantinople or some other way out to the Mediter- 
ranean for her shipping, on the South. Japan, while 
maintaining her part of her agreement with Great Britain, 
is nevertheless covertly looking out for her own interest 
in its effort to drive the Germans from the leased province 
which it is now asserted will be returned to China. Italy 
has maintained a neutrality that is fraught with dangers. 
For Austria and Germany, whether they are successful 
or whether they fail will not forget Italy’s refusal to 
assist. Italy would not enlist in the fray with the triple 
alliance because it claimed the alliance only provided for 
active co-operation in the hour of conflict caused by an 
invader. Italy stands neutral because Germany is the 
aggressor. But the neutrality of Belgium has not been 
respected. It is not likely that Italy’s territory will be 
considered neutral if either of the contending forces 
thought that any advantage might be obtained by crossing 
Italy. Italy is neutral, indeed, but its neutrality is de- 
pendent upon so many conflicting possibilities in the 
future it will be a difficult task to maintain an Italian 
neutrality. The Canadian district, of course, is involved 
and martial forces are being gathered there, so that the 
conflict is really world wide. There are martial conflicts 
being prepared for all continents. The European strug- 
gle has broken bounds and has spread over all the world. 
It is Evipenr Tuatr GERMANY is persistently fol- 
lowing out a plan of campaign that has been carefully 
prepared. Germany was prepared to mobilize. A mil- 
lion troops cannot be thrown into a war equipped with 
guns, uniforms, rations and other martial equipments 
necessary for field service. To believe that such a num- 
ber of’ men were equipped in the short while Germany 
had to mobilize and begin operations is unthinkable. 
Tuerre 1s NoTHING so AWAKENING as real disaster 
of dramatic importance to a man or a community. In 
the face of larger difficulties a man’s reserved power is 
summoned and victory can only be thus won. Before 
the larger difficulties petty cares dwindle. 
WuHere WILL, THE KAISER buy new shoes for his 
soldiers when the present supply is gone? 
THe NEUTRALITY OF THE UNITED STATES, however, 
must be maintained at all hazards. Its declarations are 
sincere and there is no reason why the nation should be 
involved. In the future it is almose certain that events 
will arise that will try the patience of the President, but 
through them all the nation should be careful not to 
enter a strife in which it can have no belligerent interests. 
This nation is the result of human impatience with the 
old world political and religious conditions and its re- 
straints. From the landing of the Pilgrims to the land- 
ing of the last immigrant the desire uppermost in the 
minds of the newcomers to the new shore has been to 
leave the old world troubles and establish new homes ia 
a free land to become involved in an old world strife 
would be national folly and contrary to every ambition 
and principle of the new republic. ‘The new republic 
hates war of any kind, regrets the present strife and 
would gladly stop its slaughter. The republic connot be 
indifferent to the ferocity and atrocity of war anywhere. 
It cannot \be that the new Americans have severed all 
ties in the old world, but it must ever be the purpose of 
everyone on the soil of America to leave to Europe the 
strife that is European. 
Levyinc A Forty Miiiion Doriiar Tax upon a 
neutral city that has refused to admit an armed force, 
does not please a neutral country. Germany may be 
sowing dragon's teeth. If Brussels is worth a forty mil- © 
lion dollar levy to Germany, what would a Berlin as a 
source of a fruitful war levy be worth to France, Eng- 
land, Russia and Japan? 
THERE W111, BE LittLE EUROPEAN TRAVEL for sey- 
eral seasons to come even if the war be short. ‘The 
American public has spent milions of American-earned 
money in Europe. Next season the American shore re- 
sorts and summer places in the mountains ought to do 
a flourishing business. 
THE EuROopEAN Wak has spared the people of Amer- 
ica from reading many a petty criminal narrative. What 
has become of the celebrated New York murder trail? 
And the Thaw episode? And Woman’s suffrage? And 
Home Rule, and German Socialism and the Welsh diffi- 
culties ? 
THE CESSATION IN MANY BustNeEss PLAN’s of their 
work and the pasing of dividends by other American 
enterprises is evidence enough that the United States has 
still much to do to assert and to maintain its economic 
independence. 
Wit, THE LABor UNIoN SOLDIERS engaged in war 
insist on an eight-hour working day? And a half day 
off Saturdays and a double holiday and double pay for 
over work? 
BALK THE KAIsER! 
