New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17
A PLAN TO STOP WAR.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: VIII you permit me to say a few words in
regard TO a statement that l find in the letter
of Mr.. Van de Water that is published in your is
sue Of this date? Mr.. Van de Water says: There
Is kind OF peace that rings out Of lannon's
throat and follows the persuasion OF shot and
shell" Now. although It would be difficult to
persuade n member Of q peace society 10 ac-
knowledge that the peace which is a consequence
Of warfare, a threat warfare. is really
peace yet II seems TO ne that II Is the only sort
OF peace that be hoped for nj this stage OF
the worlds progress
So far as | know, there three practicable
ways. and three ways only Outside Of the methods
OF ordinary s.atesmanship) OF preventing warfare
among nations. One way Is by arbitration. but
the idea OF arbitration has failed slgnay, In
the present crisis. tina, il is out Of the question.
Another way Is the plan advocated by Henry
George-that Of doing away with public debts and
indirect taxation. Mr. Georges contention was
that il the cost Of had TO be betrayed by a
direct tax. collected as the expenses arose, no
war could he begun IN the present crisis. tho
the devices OF public debts and indirect taxation
did not exist. possibly the 'hi"g might happen
twin devices do exist. and cannot be abolished
save by tho tedious way OF social reform: so that
plan. too, Is out OF the question at this time.
The only other plan for preventing warfare l
efectual in the present crisis, II II could be put
They say tina, leader appears IN every crisis
that with the hour comes the man. Let sup
pose that man had been born who was destined
TO be tho means OF avcrting warfare in the pres
f fned f'''S' "'''F all 'ne'"''' o. ''p0"'o'Y ''o
His education would have been begun years ago.
In early childhood from the lips Of loving parent
or teacher. he would have heard the story OF that
Wonderful Counsellor who by His life and by
His death taught men the lesson o. peace on
Sae been And bopH the Be that ne n Ss OF m
lives TO live. and the best of all deaths to die s
The life that Is lived and The drodh ina; - dlco
as his understanding deepcned. he would have
preached the docIfines Of patriotisn in puipiis
consecrated to the religion CT Christ; and then he
would have taken up the work that he had been
lie would have taught that to be a follower of
patriotism 20 level where all men are regarded
blood is known murder whether i IS done in
private encounter or whether IL Is done IN war.
peace-that flag which is able 10 inspire men with
far higher courage than was ever Inspired by any
national emblem. He would have called for vol,
unteers 10 gather under the standard that he had
,nplifted and his call would have been answered.
theless true thai men have lived and men nrc living
AZ the governmental power on earth 70 take the
life Of a ow-man would gladly lag down their
and navy Of peace would have been raised and
| under their leader would have been ready in the
selves between The .eepposing forces. and to say
do So but II is through our bodies ,hat yor hu
let's Will pass; we are ready TO Law down our lives
Woud any h1an Ssing ciacd or
fire shot that must pass through dcfencciess
fellow creatures before II could reach the enemy
This last-Inentioned plan comes nearest Of any
plan that can be devised, think; 20 insurlne
lions the only people with whom had
to 40 1t you'd IN al probability BE- wholly a.
whose appetit" would be whetted by the knowledge
that only defcrccless human beings stood between
them and everything In the West that they might
covet. We realize that even absolute following
In the footsteps Of tho Prince OF Peace would not
insure peace earth.
Therefore. 1t seems 10 me that although mem
1Hv pf.f m n not hA lilac
70 regard condition that is consequent upon war
fare or threat OF warfare. being ronlly a
condition OF peace yet 4 is tho only kind OF peace
that men may hope TO see at this stage Of human
progress. Y. y. WILLIAMS
Montclair. N j. April g. lsss