The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-31
War Against War.


Topic Tor August 8. why War should Be Abol-
ished." Isaiah. h24; Matthew. v:2s4s
The hysteria OF England over a possible
German invasion, the terrific burden Of
military taxation in Germany. a stu
heavier load borne by the people OF ia
pan, the recent overthrow OF the French
ministry during a military debate. the
riots IN Spain against the Moroccan war.
the squabbling between small South
American countries over a boundary dis
pute-all are cOntemporaneous arguments
drawn from the daily newspaper against
the madness Of militarism One does not
have to go 10 ancient treaties to perceive
the hurt Of the war spirit II is before
the eyes Of whatsoever would look The
amazing thing IS that the common sense
Of humanity has not long since banished
the blight OF war.
The tide Of peace sentiment IS steadily
rising all around the world. OF that there
can be no doubt. Instead Of being the
passion Of the choice few men and wom-
en- Of refined spirit, the conviction in
favor Of international peace has begun
10 find Judgment in the breasts OF plain
people, who have always furnished the
food for powder. Theirs are the homes
that are desOlated by the cruel science
which spends lives as II spends lead. After
having furnished the soldiers for all wars.
the plain people are also called upon 10
pay the cost Of the same. although they
are rarely consulted as to whether or not
war should be entered upon. A deep
ened resentment against the awful bur
dens which war lays upon the working
man Is crr0Wfncr fu tho rofpTc oF 80. -
letariat
This is the day OF brotherhood. All
races are dreaming Of the unity Of man
kind. That the old bitterness, misunder-
standings, and prejudices should give way
to concord and fraternity is the desire Of
nations. But It is simply impossible that
anything at all resembling a day Of uni
versal brotherhood should dawn while the
first concern Of great nations is the main
tenance Of huge armies and navies.
The arts of war are nonproductive arts
When most justihable they only give pro-
lection for the development Of wortheir
pursuits. The usefulness Of mankind. as
well as the common prosperity OF the
race. is promoted by peace and not by
war. Consider for an instant the treas
ures Of art and literature and history
that have been lost TO mankind through
the ravages Of war
Some one raises the question: But does
not war make men brave and cultivate
the other noble virtuesT' Let US consider
For a week past the principal headlines
in the daily papers have been devoted to
the reopened inquest at Annapolis into
the death by violence Of a lieutenant Of
the United States Marine Corps. The tes-
timony has thrown a food Of light upon
the character and conduct of some Of
these officers and gentlemen" who sup
pOsedly represent military traditions at
their best Here we find drunkenness.
brutality, snObbshness. open neglect Of
the plainest military duties. and still
graver offenses. If we are to accept these
conditions as at all typical or are 70 at
tach any significance 10 the many di-
vorces and scandals reported from mill
tary circles, we are bound to say that the
morals and virtues OF the military class
are below those of the ordinary day Ia
borer.
Under the cover OF the turmoil Of war
all kinds Of base passions emerge into ac-
tivity. That heroism, self-deniaI. and pa
triotism are often evoked BY war no one
can deny; yet even the noblest OF wars
are used as a cloak by a horde OF harpies
who serve their own base ends al the ex-
pense Of the peoples patriotism Consid-
err the army contractors who during the
American civil war grew rich by cheat
ing the Federal government. Recall the
I round robin" letter IN the Spanish Amer
lean war which Mr.. Roosevelt himself
signed Remember the army supply scan