The Germs of War/Chapter 9
9. The Wolf Struggle of Nations.
England was the first nation to develop the modern system of competitive factory industry. Her capitalists owned the resources and the machines. They hired workers, paid them less in wages than they created in product, and took the surplus (rent, interest, dividends, profits) for their own. This surplus the owners could not consume, so they invested it in new mills and mines at home. These new investments created new floods of surplus. The capitalists then went abroad in search of investments. They found iron ore in Cuba, and Chile, and oil in Mexico. German, English and American capitalists invested their surplus there. There was hard feeling, friction, conflict. Who was to exploit their choice bits of the earth?
Patriotic Germany was ready to protect the investments of her capitalists. Patriotic England was willing to defend her capitalists. A shot sounded from somewhere and England and Germany were at war!
Now the American capitalists, who are in charge of a similar exploiting system, are actively engaged in their efforts to lay their hands on Mexico and South America. Germany and England were strong there before the war. They are busy now, and it is Uncle Sam's turn to take a hand. The war will end. No matter whether England or Germany wins, the victor again will turn her attention to Mexico and South America.
The same international, economic competition, based on exploitation at home and investment abroad, that drove England and Germany into war will drive the United States to war with the victor in the European conflict, no matter which nation wins. The American papers talk glibly now of sympathy with English ideals. Kaiserism they hate. Therefore they are pro-ally. They forget that the Czar is also pro-ally, and Czarism is as repellent to American and English ideals as Kaiserism ever hoped to be. The United States has fought two wars with England, and been on the verge of two more. She has never fought with Germany, but it will be as easy to create friction in one case as in the other. If you do not believe it, read current events; read history, and then put two and two together.
The conflict is inevitable! The United States is driving fast toward war. Therefore, let us prepare!
Just so!
This is the real cause.
Here are the germs of war, lurking in economic competition between nations.
Now we know why we are to prepare. Now we know why ninety-five per cent of the patriotism around the campaign of the past year will be found among those who are benefited by things as they are and as they are to be, with preparedness to back them.
The American Exploiters are to continue their system of exploitation; they are to take the surplus secured by this exploitation; they are to invest this surplus for the purpose of exploiting resources and people outside of the United States and the United States is to prepare to defend them in this new exploiting venture. Thus preparedness is intended to back up economic piracy.
Do you object?
Are you not willing to pay higher prices, to add to the tax rate, to pile up national debt, perhaps to give your son, your brother, your husband, your father, in this holy cause of economic exploitation? The oil interests, the copper interests, the steel interests, the timber interests, the sugar interests, are calling to you, "Prepare! Prepare!" will you not rush to their aid?
You may hesitate unpatriotically, and question,—"Why," you ask, "do they not sell their surplus products at home. There are many in the direst need, here. Why not America first?" Why not? Because, the wages paid by these American exploiters to the American wage earners are so small in comparison to their product, that they cannot buy back what they made. The American wage scale stands between the American worker and his product. Now are you not satisfied?
What, you still protest? Then know this. That in the past, the American exploiters have been under a grave disadvantage as compared with their brothers abroad. They alone, among the capitalists of the world, have had no great standing army to protect their interests in their own country. Consequently malcontents and agitators have been able to stir up revolts and cut profits. Stand aside! Let preparedness become a reality and the vested interests of the United States will have an army in the words of President Wilson's last message,—"No larger than is actually and continuously needed for the uses of days in which no enemies move against us. Under no circumstances," he says, "will we maintain a standing army except for uses which are as necessary in times of peace as in times of war."