England and Germany Prepare for War
“The Philadelphia Press” of April 18 editorially remarks that “the world wants peace, talks peace and all are for arbitration in theory. But man is a fighting animal. War shadows all.” It refers to the old wars between England and Spain, England and Holland, England and France; all fought out to a finish. The world changes and centuries pass, but man changes little, and now England and Germany face each other in the world’s fighting ring. The Press admits that it is a disgrace to civilization, nevertheless it is a great and striking fact. Now the two nations are fighting with their treasuries. Germany’s financial system may break down before she has built a fleet to equal England’s. Whether the masses will accept of the added taxation or not is a question. Meanwhile the Press calls for a bigger fleet for the United States because the victor will demand possessions in which the United States is interested; and even thus speaks the prophecy: “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, . . . beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears. Let the weak say, I am strong.” And just beyond that lies the great day of God.