The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-16
DR.. LYMAN ABBOTT'S VIEWS.


any price. There are times when combat
is necessary, and the man who has not
some soldierly elements in his makeup
is lacking in the fundamental elements or
divine character. The history of the
world would be much poorer than 1t is IL
there were no records of war on Its pages.
Then it would have had no Paul, no
Cromwell, no Washington. Christianity
does not ema sculate men. Christians are
peacemakers but they are not to stand
for peace at any price, and recognize that
there are some things worse than war,
horrible as II is.
81 do not wish TO import journalism into
the pulpit, nor make it field for secular
lectures, and yet when congress appfo-
priated $4,000 900 and gave President Nc
kinley absolute power to spend II for the
nations defence, we proclaimed to our
selves and the world that we were in
close peril of great war. whether we
are to have "A war or not, the question IL
pre-eminently and profoundly moral
one, and the prophet may not be silent,
however much he would. do not propose
to discuss the probabilities of war with
pain, and honestly believe that the peril
of war is less today than at any time
since the horrible disaster or crime which
occa asioned the loss of the Maine. | do
propose however to enumerate the great
fundamental principles bearing on nation
al life and by which We are to be gov
erned.
"The first principle is that war is hor-
rible thing, not only costing beyond all
ordinary computation in money. but in
homes and lives. 1t multiplies tragedies
in every nook and corner of the land. But
this is not the least of its evils. 1t sets
on fire the baser passions of men, II opens
the way for corruption, 1t is always ac-
companicd and followed by corruption,
War is a horrible necessity-for it is
necessity. With the spirit which wishes
war for wars sake | have no sympathy.
II IL be possible, live at peace with all
men. This is the first and fundamental
principle: but if the sword be given to Us
we must take it. A nation is trust or
| ganized to protect its citizens from as
| sault without and injustice within. When
| the time comes that it cannot protect its
| cizens without war. il is recreant If It
does not buckle on its sword. Three times
| in our national history did we find il i'm
| possible to live in peace with all men,
| and not to the utmost bound of eternity
| shall we look back on Bunker Hill and
| want the record wiped out, nor shall We
confess as a crime the battle of Commo-
dore Perr!.
| "a nation is more than a trustee for its
| own citizens-it is part of the community
| of nations. No nation liveth to itself. We
can no longer stand apart and leave Eu-
| rope alone. and say Europe must leave
| us alone. We are united by proximity.
! by commerce, and by the ties of blood
| that run across the ocean. We are part
of this great world. and have always in
| a measure, recognized II. There is an at
tempt TO partition China, much as Poland
| was divided. One nation, perhaps two.
| says II should not be done The time has
come when America shall declare that an
other nation shall not put Gordon
around China, shall not play the part of
| robber baron on the highways of her
commerce. America should stand for
| freedom in other lands as well as in her
own.
"I am not gCing to enter into the merits
| OF the war with Cuba" continued DR.. Abb
| hott. "a Cuban may not be better than a
Spaniard. but war is going on there which
| has violated all the principles of inter
| national law. Perhaps the time has come
| when we cannot live at peace with all
men longer. We are "A great nation, at
| least big one. We have held our equl-
poise in an hour OF great provocation, but
IL do not misread the heart OF the Amer
lean nation, there is a possibility OF an
| explosion. Standing in a Christian pulpit
committed by its past to peace, / am COM
lpelled to utter these words, This great ma
tion belongs to the community of nations,
and when the time comes that they de-
clare this internecine war with Cuba
must cease we must say Amen"