Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1914-09-12
AMERICAS OPPORTUNITY.

As long as the Nations Of the world
we're at peace, even though the peace
was but an artificial restraint, the
United States was only one Nation
! among many. Now in the midst OF
the weller OF war, the conflict OF ter
ritorial ambitions. the clash OF racial
jealousies and the wrestling Of dynas-
tic hatreds, she stands out serene and
eminent as the hope of the world and
the refuge and help OF It's distressed
and suffering peoples.
It is quite possible for her to make
use OF this position of strength and
peaceful isolation to gain commercial
advantages, territorial expansion and
international prestige Of the less adj
mirable sort Many thousands Of our
citizens are already planning so to
use this opportunity, and millions of
others are in a vague way foreseeing
and hoping that such may be the out
come Of the exhaustion OF Europe.
This is the spirit OF business, and
within the law-the human law-en-
tirely permissible.
But II is not too much to say that
II America makes this use OF her
neighbors' weakness; II she seeks to
grasp the sceptre of the worlds COM
merce; II she attempts to become a
dictator: to assume powers and In
sist on privileges, as she will undoubt-
eddy be in a position to do. she will
commit a gigantic wrong and sell her
birthright for a mess OF particularly
unclean pottage.
Her opportunity, her privilege and
her duty is to show the way TO new
brotherhood OF man; to take steps
looking to the reconstruction OF socie
ty not only in Europe, but throughout
the world. This war is not a matter
OF merely European interest. The en-
tire civilization OF the world has It's
springs in Europe, and the concern OF
Europe today is the concern OF man
kind. The settlement which is TO come
must be secular in its scope, and II
is for the United States now to make
plans. to work out definite lines and
to discover the solution of problems
when the terms OF peace are beinl
considered.
To begin with, frontiers will be re
adjusted. Already We see Poland re
appearing on the map. Other sup
pressed and submerged nationalitie'
will, in their turn, force their way L
the sunlight I'M the general looseninl
OF bonds and overturning Of tyrannies
America will be in the position, az
( universal mediator, to act as guardian
5 OF their interests, and to make yer!
r strong plea In the name OF common
I sense and common decency for a rea
Y sonable adjustment which will foreve
4 make such futile and artificial divi
sions as have hitherto been the Gus
tom impossible. Second, she can Leaf
I the way in calling for an internationa
] agreement that henceforth all wal
! ships, all cannon, all explosives an,
i every kind OF munition of war shall
t be manufactured solely for the gov
ernments Of the respective countries
and thus put an end to the cryin
scandal OF private interests beinj
concerned in the multiplication o
ornaments and the production OF wa
+ munitions.
And third, she can demand - an,
e when we say demand" we mean de
mand - international restriction
, which will guarantee the rights Of neu
trail Nations and neutral commerce,
, throughout the world, that no sucl
stoppage Of the worlds work and tn,
worlds traffic as We have just expert
enced can ever occur again. Their,
are many other things which we cal
, do for the benefit Of humanity an,
for the saving OF civilization, and tn,
time to begin to think of them, L
speak OF them and to plan for then
3 is now. Unless the public opinion o
| this country is definite, determine,
' and unanimous, we can do little, bu
, II IT Is definite, determined and unanI
nous we can do everything. We on
I toEufoue our very existence and N
r lifeblood. We mhst repay the det|
y Now In the providence Of God is IN
time when We. can. do so--.It-is.a nnhl
et upputiuultxs :2dii use, q
Iit-The Churchman.