The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-21
THE MOVEMENT FOR
INTERNATIONAL PEACE
LESLIE S. ANDERSON.

And ne shall judge among the ma
tions and he shall rebuke many people:
And they shall beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into prun-
ing hooks: Nation shall not lift up
sword against nation. neither shall
they learn war any more"
Thus spoke the ancient Prophet
many centuries before the coming of
the Saviour. These words were uttered
at a time in the Worlds history when
war and slaughter and blood shed were
the ordinary occupation of men and of
nations.
1t was Isaiah's vision of universal
peace, and il foretold the final influ-
ence of Christianity upon the human
race, 1t foresaw the triumph of reason
and justice and love, over force and
hatred and strife.
At last, almost 1000 years after the
coming of the Prince of Peace men are
beginning to see the truth. Says
President Butler of Columbia Jniver-
sity speaking the President of the
American Association for International
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES before has the
mind of the world been so occupied
with the problems of substituting law
for war, peace with righteousness for
triumphs after slaughter, the victories
of right and reasonableness for those
of might and brute force"
Ever since man emerged from the
condition of the savage and developed
the power to think, there have been
some of superior moral and intellect
ual power who realized the brutalizing
effect of war, and who understood the
benefits and blessings Of peace: but
e.
were UNDECIDED and their influence was
not felt. Therefore for centuries. not
withstanding that the conscience of
men loves peace rather than strife the
world has continued to revel in blood
shed and savage destruction of life
and property. Men and women alike
have been led to believe that brutality
| is manly and glorious, and that reason
and justice and mercy are cowardly.
The greatest hero according to the pre-
vailing opinion of the world has been
| he who has wrought the most destruc-
| tion and blood-shed: the most admira-
BILE human character has been the man
most successful in pillage and the de-
struction of life.
We turn to the pages of the history
of nations and find that il is in great
part a chronicle of bloody deeds. The
heroes of history have not been the
Just, the merciful, the self sacrificing
nor have they been the writers of
! books, the artists, nor the men or
science. On the contrary, these heroes
have been the kings, the emperors, the
| generals and commanders OF the war
ring hosts. We find, too, that while
most of the wars have been waged in
the name of patriotism, and while the
slaughter has generally been carried on
under the pretext of lofty motives
sometimes under the guise OF the
Christian religion itself the fact re-
mains that the fundamental reason for
| the great wars has been the greed.
ambition or selfishness of rulers. War
has been generally the out growth Of
the evil or baser side of human nature.
How many wars have truly been de-
clared and fought for the enforcement
of justice. the protection of the weak.
the prevention of wrong, the better
ment of the people or the enlighten-
ment of the world? On the other hand
how many have been begun and car
ried on for the enrichment of SOW
origins. the oppression of the weak. for
plumber and pillage, or for the glory
Of a monarch? How many millions OF
human lives have been destroyed in
order that the name of some powerful
and wicked ruffian and despoiler
might shine on the pages of history!
What rivers of blood have been spilled
in war to crafty the evil passions of
corrupt and selfish man!
Too long have the minds Of the
youth been taught to admire the mill
tary hero The historical picture Of
the warrior has been drawn 50 as to
appeal TO the imagination of the
young and thus have they been led 10
believe that true greatness is measured
by the result Of bloody battles. Better
would it have been for civilization, for
; the true progress of the world. had all
the record of the wholesale slaughter
of men been blotted out entirely. BY
the reading Of these bloody struggles
. successive generations of people have
been taught that war Is necessary
that ii is a noble and high profession
that force is justice and that might
. is right The barbarity OF war has
, been thus perpetuated and men have
: taught the anti-Christian and prepos-
ferrous doctrine that slaughter of hu-
man beings in war entities a man &c
: the highest human glory. In thi:
} way the moral and intellectual growth
Of the world has been hindered and
blighted
But thanks 10 the gradual influence
: OF true Christian doctrine and to SLOW
= but sure increase of intelligence amons
P the general mass of mankind. the truti
r . Is at last becoming understood. Tn
common people must bear the burdel
= of war They have always borne II
= They must do the fighting. theirs /
= the blood to be spilled, theirs are tn
= widows and orphans, and they must pa
= for the war and for the pensions whic
0 come after it. These. the common PEG
p pie, perceive that war is not only NOR
: ally unjustfiable and unnecessar
: among enlightened nations, but
: costly in life and in money. They sc
8 how war eats up all the fruits OF pro
= gress and lays heavy taxes on the PEG
I pie for military and naval expendi
= lures, and for ever increasing pensions
n They realize that the war creates an
p spreads bodily diseases and quickl
= breeds political corruption 1t slaugh
ters and mains the best and stronges
q OF a nation; ii demoralizes society an
j. impoveriShes the people.
e As result of this awakening or tn
a people. war. with its attendant evils an
II endless expense is coming at last
b. be regarded in its true hgh.. II
y beginning to he looked on as some
Il thing 10 be abolished or dispense
Is with The glory. the "pomp and Gil
4. Icumstance" OF war are dissolving an
le disappearing before this practical ar
II common sense view stripped OF Il