The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-13

close attention of the congregation and was as follows:
 In the great metropolis of the New l World there is now assembled most re- markable gathering of men. The flower of our western civilization, the dreamers of an ideal condition of humanity, the advocates of universal peace, are gather | ing to sound once again not the bugle 1 of destruction but the blast of serene peace. Great legislative bodies, colleges and labor unions, philanthropic and peace l societies are sending delegates to further the great movement for arbitration and peace.
 Psychological Moment. The psychological moment seems to have come in this old yet ever new move- ment The old Hebrew prophets vision when nations will change their spears into pruning hooks and learn war no | more" appears no longer to be an idle dream. The world is interested in this movement. Brotherhood Is the great word today Even the great military powers begin to realize the folly and wiekedness of war. They are preparing for the second Hague congress. At no tune, then, is the pleading of the lover of peace more opportune. America is in | the fortunate position to speak the strongest word and the church should l speak loudest of all. On the eve of the great peace congress it is then timely for us, living in this busy, industrial center, to raise our voice in behalf of the move ment, and to point out the follies of war in contrast to the prestige of peace. Apologists of war-snd there are still some-are in the habit of invoking ob- solete economic theories in support of their contention. They assert that chronic outbreaks of national homicidal mania are a provision of nature to limit Ithe increase of the race Not every bud grows into flower or develops into fruit. Chilly nights, storms and insects keep down the number allowed to run from seed to seed.
 It is thus in the life of man, say they. Unless plague and pestilence and war intervene, the earth will be overpopulated. Once this argument appealed. But with mighty stretches of earth still awaiting the plough of the settler, with large [ areas still uninhabited, the folly of the argument is self-evident If this argument is true, then we should rectify our en- . tire ethics. Then we should call a halt to the men of science who are busy SSdItHiHS out lHe causes O1. disease, bent to defeat the destructive microbes Then we should change our ideas of public hygiene, the purpose of which is to in- crease life and to protect it. Then in- crease Of population, instead of being considered a blessing, will have to be rated a curse, and become a source of so- lieitude. Truly the argument is fallaci- ous.
 With DarWinian Philosophy
 But the advocates of war will try to prove their course with Darwinan philos- ophy. Struggle is the law of the uni verse. The Attest will survive in the end. Accept this statement and still war remains anything but beneficial Bull let's do not discriminate between the fit test and the frailest. Bullets as rule take off the fittest. The young and strong rush to War. The morally finest and tho physically noblest are exposed to the fire of the ehemy The weak and the indf- ferent and the cowardly and the old re- main behind and are allowed to procreate the race. The result, according to Oar wins theory will be that the next genera tion will be mentally, morally and physi- cally inferior. Surely the argument falls of it's own weight.
 Again they say that the strenuous life of war is a good tonic to the morals of a nation, that it arouses them from their lethargy, brings to them visions that there are higher things than gold and silver. It silences commercialism, brings the pampered boy of luxury into fellow ship with the hardy son of the soil and thereby fuses into conscious unity the diff ferent classes. Certainly war has done this. But the question is, must a. na- ton forego these If it keeps peace? We need not have war for the display of heroism. Civil life offers opportunities for heroic virtue. Every physician in tf u.-. comotive is at times a hero, and such civic heroism is demanded of all, and Is within reach of all. To do the right in face of prejudice is as great an act of self-sacrifce as brave deed of war. and after all martial heroism is followed by misery. Killing is an occupation that brutalizes.
 commerciaism an Evil.
 That commercialism is an evil none will gainsay. But is war it's only correc- tive? In fact, have not most wars been under the instigaton of greed masquerad- ing in the vestments of humanity and civ- ilization. Commercial exploitation as a rule is always in the wake of war.
 It would thus seem that the usual argu- ments in favor of war are untrue. Its only defense is that under our imperfect adjustment war is a necessary evil. Ma tions, as individuals. must guard their
 
 must defend their rights But shall not the plan which society has adopted in the course of experience be enlarged to embrace nations also? Justice between man and man Is done by judicial tri- bunals. Protection is afforded to the weak as well as the strong, by society as a whole and not by each individual for himself Had we tribunals of nations, questions of difference between nations could be adjusted without the arbi trament of war. The unjust instigator of war would fall under the ban of all civilized nations. And if force would then have to be employed 1t would be on 2 different plane, and would rise to the dignity of judicial decree that is to be enforced. At all events. the dispute be- tween nations will first be submitted to the judgment Of all the world.
 The blessings reputed to war will not be beyond our reach after war shall be no more. Education, moral culture, cour- age to be right will uplift the whole na-s ton. Indeed. the vision of the ancient seers will be realized in no far distant day when he shall judge between many ppopla and decide for strong nations eyAp