04.06.2018 Views

The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Chapter 10<br />

Amity or Armageddon?<br />

<strong>The</strong> people <strong>of</strong> this world are proclaiming peace,<br />

and preparing for war. Never has <strong>the</strong>re been a state<br />

<strong>of</strong> affairs so utterly incongruous. With one voice<br />

men unite in declaring that <strong>the</strong> halcyon days are at<br />

hand, while at <strong>the</strong> same time <strong>the</strong>y get ready for <strong>the</strong><br />

biggest game <strong>of</strong> powder and projectile that has ever<br />

been proposed during <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth.<br />

Europe presents <strong>the</strong> appearance <strong>of</strong> one vast battlefield,<br />

with <strong>the</strong> rival armies <strong>of</strong> every nation drawn<br />

up in military array, waiting for <strong>the</strong> signal which<br />

will announce that <strong>the</strong> time has come for <strong>the</strong> fray to<br />

commence. In Africa, from <strong>the</strong> Cape to Cairo, and<br />

from Sierra Leone to Zanzibar, <strong>the</strong> powers and<br />

potentates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Old World have staked out <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

claims, and in a state <strong>of</strong> delirium incident to <strong>the</strong><br />

dread fever <strong>of</strong> earth-hunger, <strong>the</strong>y are ready at a<br />

moment’s warning to fly at each o<strong>the</strong>rs’ throats, or<br />

to tear out each o<strong>the</strong>rs’ vitals. Around <strong>the</strong> China<br />

Sea we again find <strong>the</strong>m all encamped, watching for<br />

and hastening on <strong>the</strong> breakup <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Middle<br />

353

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!