The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol. 1, January 9, 1915 - What Americans Say to Europe by Various
page 3 of 499 (00%)
page 3 of 499 (00%)
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Some hold that moral considerations must be subordinated either to military necessity or so-called manifest destiny. This is the Bernhardi doctrine. Others teach that war is a beneficent fatality and that all nations engaged in it are therefore equally justified. On this theory all of the now contending nations are but victims of an irresistible current of events, and the highest duty of the State is to prepare itself for the systematic extermination, when necessary or expedient, of its neighbors. Notwithstanding the clever platitudes under which both these doctrines are veiled, all morally sane minds are agreed that this war is a great crime against civilization, and the only open question is, which of the two contending groups of powers is morally responsible for that crime? Was Austria justified in declaring war against Servia? Was Germany justified in declaring war against Russia and France? Was England justified in declaring war against Germany? As the last of these questions is the most easily disposed of, it may be considered first. England's Justification. England's justification rests upon the solemn Treaty of 1839, whereby Prussia, France, England, Austria, and Russia "became the guarantors" of |
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