The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-09
A Disgrace TO caristendom.

Former Senator George E. Edmunds
made a stirring address in Philadel-
phia on Sunday last in the interest of
international peace, in the course of
which he paid his respects to the saw
age war now progressing II the far
East. "Whea an individual sees his
neighbors fighting, be said, .she
goes to them and makes them stop.
They do not like it, of course, else
why should they ight9 The individual
has done his God hidden duty. But
when Christian nations see other na
tions fighting, the example of the
Individual is not followed. -
Mr.. Edmunos took the ground that
as the people were masters they
should govern their rulers and should
make them interfere and command
peace when, TWO nations took each
other by the throat. In other words,
he thinks that it is now the duty of
the Christian nations of the world to
invervene in the war which is now
progressing between Japan and Russia
and put stop to the slaughter.
Mr. Edmunds is right The reports
which come to US day after day from
Manchuria are reports Of horror.
Thousands upon thousands of human
beings are being butchered every day,
and it appears that the bloody strug
gle will go on until either one side or
the other shall have conquered, or else
until every drop of blood has been
poured out as libation to eavagery.
It may be said that this IS an affair
hi \,
ioutsiders Lave nothing to do. This
may be the law of diplomacy, but
there is a higher law. AS Mr.. Ed
munds has so we'll said, there is no
difference between the duty of indi-
Viduals and Of nations, for after all a
nation is nothing more than an organ
izatioh Of individuals. We cannot
have two standards. We cannot have
one code of morals for individuals and
another code of morals fer nations.
That which is in 7ividuaily wrong
caNnet be nationally right, and all the
arguments of diplomacy, couched as
may be.in fine language, cannot alter
the fact. If crowd of men should
stand by and see two human beings
engage in a duel with knives and
slash and cut each other until one or
the other or both are killed and never
attempt to separated them and pre-
serve the peace, they would be de-
nounced the world over as towards or
brutes. But a duel very much worse
than duel between Individuals is
now progressing in Manchuria. In
stead of one life Or two lives being
involved the lives of thousands and
thousands are being daily sacrificed,
yet the Christian nations of the earth
are standing By and not even offering
their coed Office IL the interest Of
peace. They are going a5ort their
affairs as though the Smile Of heaven
were beoodi&G over Manchuria instead
of the fcown OF sshe grim monster OF
war; IS tho1eb the streams wc-' s:;r>-
ping arii sparkling IA putty, instead
o. being staire5 with human blood:
as though the hills were crowned
With The gorgeous foliage Of peaceful
autumn instead OF being mounted with
death dealing guns.
It is spectacle to rouse every nan
witt. sHslk of humanity IN him.
More especially is 1t u spectacle to
arouse those who ciain TO op eDl'sted
IL the amy of the Prince oi Peace
IF a crow0 Of spectators standing by
ard seeing ouel between to msn
without ofTesiny 70 irericre ale
ameraale to ;he charge Of co"arcice
or brutality, WY may nSt the same
charge with eq"sl justice he made
against the 81 called Christian Hat:oas
~ho stand erioidad N their dire
matte garments. picture Of ;odiIfer-
ence aud imbecjl;ty, while this bloody
tragedy il ;be ;ac East IS going on
from day to CAV.
Lei as AVE reace.-Richmcno
T:.ae