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

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production <strong>of</strong> wealth are ei<strong>the</strong>r paralyzed or<br />

checked in <strong>the</strong>ir development. Moreover, in<br />

proportion as <strong>the</strong> armaments <strong>of</strong> each power<br />

increase, so do <strong>the</strong>y less and less fulfil <strong>the</strong> object<br />

which <strong>the</strong> governments have set before <strong>the</strong>mselves.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> economic crisis, due in great part to <strong>the</strong><br />

system <strong>of</strong> armaments, à outrance [to <strong>the</strong> point <strong>of</strong><br />

outrage, or to <strong>the</strong> bitter end], and <strong>the</strong> continued<br />

danger which lies in this massing <strong>of</strong> war material,<br />

are transforming <strong>the</strong> armed peace <strong>of</strong> our days into a<br />

crushing burden, which <strong>the</strong> people have more and<br />

more difficulty in bearing. It appears evident, <strong>the</strong>n,<br />

that if this state <strong>of</strong> things were prolonged, it would<br />

inevitably lead to <strong>the</strong> very cataclysm which it is<br />

desired to avert, and <strong>the</strong> horrors <strong>of</strong> which make<br />

every thinking man shudder in advance.”<br />

Whatever may have been <strong>the</strong> underlying<br />

reasons which caused <strong>the</strong> czar <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> Russias to<br />

issue this invitation to his bro<strong>the</strong>r potentates, one<br />

thing is certain, that whe<strong>the</strong>r his object and design<br />

was sinister or sincere, men stand aghast when <strong>the</strong>y<br />

view <strong>the</strong> terrible effects which must needs be<br />

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