The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-03-20
The FOLLY or 1T ALL

alone IN It's opposition to war and the
nursery of large standing army.
When man wants something there
is no mistaking the signs. and he gen.
orally gets what he wants. and espe-
cially if he makes huge preparations
to get it.
In the Medical Journal of Columbus.
Ohio. for February, We find the fol-
lowing strenuous editorial on the
Wholesale Murder and Folly of
War"
We call the attention of the Pepsa.
cola Journal to it
The editor says:
Are these vast armies that are now
kept in idleness thoroughly democrat
lied for any useful avocation. tvran-
nized over by their officers who are
accustomed to scenes of debaucberv
and cruelty to be dismissed and the
millions who compose them become
producers, tillers of the soil. instead
Of creating national debts, which must
be paid out of the sweat and toll of
the labOring men?
Are these multitudes of military
parasites that serve no purpose but TO
maintain the fictitious glory of com
manders and TO be used as a bug-a-boo
70 brighten other nations into com
hitting the same folly, these degrad-
ed and degrading multitudes to be
mustered out and sent home 10 learn
the arts Of true civilization. make
homes, rear families and build cities ,
The strangest riddle that history
presents is the fact that for eighteen
centuries these people who had been
busiest in making war. are its very
ones who have prOfessed allegiance to
the teachings of Jesus, who did not
believe in war, who did not even be-
lieve in self-defense.
And another riddle equally strange
is that an Insignificant minority OF
the people Of the world can command
the overwhelming majority to shoot
each other TO death and be immedi-
ately Obeyed.
Ii the few who believe in war would
fight with each other they would soon
be eXterminated and the world would
be rid of them. But this is not what
hapens. The riddle is that they make
armies of those who do not believe
in war, TO shoot down other armies
who do not believe in war.
All the remedy necessary 10 stop
this miserable business is to some
how get the masses to see the part
they are playing. To accomplish this
purpose is the function of public
meetings.
Whatever else may be accomplish
ed al our peace conventions al The
Hague. the greatest service which
they will be able to render to human
ity will be the service of bringing
this question before the people
through the numerous reports that
viii be made Of their proceedings all
over the earth. This will soon let the
cat out Of the bag, and expose to the.
whole world what an infinitely small
minority what a hopeless minority it
Is that really believe in war.
The democrat does not believe in
war. The republican does not believe
in war. The socialist does not believe
in war Even the anarchist does not
believe in war Miss Emma Gold
man is a follower of Tolstoi, who
hates governments, because govern
ments love war.
The terrOrists of Russia seek to
assassinate the leaders of Russian
sutocracy as the only way they can
think OF 10 put an end TO tyranny and
war.
How will il all end9. Will the better
element finally establish international
courts and parliaments that will COM
pei war lovers to quit? VIII those who
believe in the Gospel finally persuade
those who believe in shot and shell
20 quite VIII the stolid masses at
last refuse 10 enlist, 10 be drafted into
armies. refuse 10 pay the taxes that
war inevitably brings? Will someone
invent an airship by means Of which
bombs can be dropped from the skies,
converting all navieS into junks and
making ash heaps of the strongest
fortifcatiOns2 or will women, who
are accustomed TO getting their say
about things when they set out. will
they band together and cajOle or
compel the men 10 quit fighting
How will il all end? For end il must
What can YOU and I 90 about it to-
night. tomorrow. next day. next
week. What part have we 10 play in
this contention? Is there anything we
can do about it,