Peace and the Garden of Mesopotamia
One writer in the New York “Independent” of December 19, Mr. Wm. T. Ellis, has an article on “If Peace Prevailed,” and among the other things, he suggests of the wonderful work that could be done in the Euphrates Valley. He says, “Germany wants Mesopotamia, but she can not colonize it with white people, because of overcrowded India and overcrowded Egypt.” “But it is perfectly clear,” he declares, “as every statesman will admit, that Germany could possess and cultivate Mesopotamia, without opposition, were it not for the threat to India contained in this colonization. The ancient bugaboo of war has laid a palsying hand upon this garden spot. Remove the menace of militarism, and the Bagdad railway system would swiftly go through to completion with the coöperation of the world; and there,” he tells us, “one could purchase almost everything that is needed,—bitumen from wells and plaster for palaces; and where now are a few decadent cities and occasional villages, a population of 12,000,000 prosperous people could be supported within five years.” But war comes in consequence of sin, and it is sin that has made the great, choice garden spots of earth what they are to-day.