Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
Mr.. RALSTON DEPLORES
THE CRY OF WAR"
Washingtonian Thinks the Pull
pits Are Not Exercising Con-
sentative Influence.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Is 1t not time for rational men in Con-
sress and out. in the pulpits and among
the laity. to take some steps to check
the development of the wild imag1nings
Of our militants:
These worthy but imaginative gentle
men serve us Japanese war scares for
breakfast, Mexican Intervention for
lunch. and invasions-probably from the
rnoon-for dinner. While all these things
are calculated to brighten timorous souls
and induce them to frantically tax them
selves to support in unprodu ctiveness
tens of thousands of men in our armies
and navies. they are likewise calculated
10 make the judicious grieve.
Let US consider these frightful specters
for a moment as II they were really
things OF flesh and blood. We are to be
heleaguered by Japan, a nation with half
the population Of ours, perhaps twen-
tieth of our wealth and wealth-produe-
ing ability. country where, as it Is
stated. third of the income of every
workingman goes to pay for their latest
unfortunate warlike experiments-unfor-
tunate because the people have suffered
and individual among them, save
through contracts. has made cent-a
nation which under no conceivable cir
cumstances could maintain for one week
u thousand men within the limits OF
America, whatever il might be able to
do to the Philippine Islands, a place
where We have no rational business. 1t
Is this nation against which We are
asked to prepare. and ii Is this nation
up our morning paper.
American Dollars Took Chances.
Or perhaps We must war in Mexico
and American lives must be offered up
In q foreign land to protect American
dollars against the chances those dollars
knew they were taking when they went
there.
IL it be not Japan or Mexico which is to
engage our warlike energies and compel
US to multiply our admirals and our gen.
erals, our battleships and our artillery.
what other nation Is II? Is England
about to swoop down upon US ana eS-
tinguish or at any rate enfeebie our ma
tional existence? The evidence is lacking.
The consequences to her would he too
terrible. Is Germany To throw away her
chances of commercial supremacy In the
WORLDS struggle therefor and sacrifice
her material weli-being in a conflict with
the United States? Are armies of Ger
mans to be landed on our seacoast CALI
ing for the Tassing of hundreds OF thou
sands 20 men to Tepei them? Is France
10 make an attempt on our national life?
Are we i'm fear of a Spanish army? Or.
perhaps. the Swiss are about to conquer
ms: The obvious answer to all of these
questions is no" and yet the cry for an
Increased army and navy. with the con-
sequent increased pay to officers. in
creased profits to contractors, goes on
continually, and otherwise good Ameri-
can citizens are pulled about like pup
pets at the bidding of designing men.
Conservative influence Needed.
Meanwhile our pulpts are not exercis-
ing the conservative influence which
might De expected from them. and in
stead of recognizing that spirit Of Chris.
tianity which is absolutely opposed &c
all war they too often allow themselves
10 be drawn into the same current. They
are too ready to approve Of a war in
rripoli. where the larger part of those
killed are only Mohammedans. too. ready
10 see the hand Of an outraged Deity in
censed against the Turk in the recen,
slaughters which have made the Balkans
charnel house: too ready to forget that
the cause of brotherhood among men and
tie recognition of the fatherhood Of Goo
Is not to be advanced by the Staying OF
those who are supposed To be made In
HIS image, whether they happen to bs
Christians or Turks, Mexican, japanese
or American.
lie: us commence to reason together q
litUe about these matters.
JACKSON II. RAIASTON.