The Washington herald., 1912-10-13
Is There Lack of Christian
SpiritBetweenthe Nations?

Writing under date OF September
from Lucerne Switzerland. to the Con-
gregationalist, Dr. Frederick Lynch. of
New York, whose activity in the Mohonk
conference and international arbitration
as a world movement is well known.
makes comment on Europe's attitude to-
ward the Panama Canal programme of
the United States. He says, in part:
The paradox of the twentieth CEN
tury is that everywhere Christian rela-
tionships prevail between individuals and
pagan relationships between the nations
to which these individuals belong. I am
writing on the terrace Of one OF the
most charming gardens of Lucerne.
Close beside me is a group of English
men and Germans. Their talk Is full Of
the utmost good will. The relations be-
tween these people is Christian through
and through. The German would never
think OF stealing the Englishman's purse.
and the Englishman would never suspect
the German of murderous designs upon
him. They do not quarrel. If they did.
they would not fly at each others
throat. They would submit the dispute
to the nearest friend or, il 1t were a
serious quarrel. to an impartial jury AS
a matter of fact, nationality is not up
permost in their talk. These particular
Germans and Englishmen happen to be
talking in French. Their whole rela-
tionship has been completely Christian
lied.
Governments stin Suspicious.
But the moment the German govern
ment and the English government ex-
change words. the whole atmosphere
changes from Christian to pagan. 1t is
as II Christianity had never existed. or
else had no part in the relationships OF
nations The talk is all OF preparation
for murderous assault of one nation
upon the other. Each declares the other
harbors designs Of invasion, and each
seems to believe that the other would
seize the land at once did it dare. In
stead Of good will there is recrimination.
No bandit in pre-Christian Europe ever
armed himself against a fellowman as
each one of these nations is arming itself
against the other. Should the slightest
dispute arise, these nations are ready to
fiy at each others throats and 1t is only
because the few who believe Christian
ethics should prevail between nations are
influential enough to be heard in these
days that these two great nations were
kept from flying at each others throats
last year. It seems too horrible to be
believed. but 1t Is true: and so pagan
still are all the codes Of national ethics
in spite OF Hague conferences and peace
congresses. that II would take little to
plunge these two nations into war
There are q god many Italians in Luz
ccrne and q good many Italian papers
are sold here. i have been interested in
getting the Italian point of view on the
war with Turkey. The simplicity Of that
view is the most striking thing about 1t,
except its barefaced paganism. 1t is
simply this: Italy needed Tripoii and
wanted It. and. having become strong
enough to take it from sick Turkey, pro-
ceeded to take it. The beauty of IT all
Is that no one sees anything wrong in
doing II.
1T would be wrong and un.Christian
for an italian to steal Turks purse or
to kill q Turk on the street But there
is nothing wrong in Itaiy's stealing Tur-
keys purse or dssroytng Turks b -