The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-12-25
is WAR MURDERS

the prince of Peace" be regarded as
anything more than mere travesty
upon words.
When Christian nations are at war
with one another and war is endors-
ed and justified by those who profess
to follow in the footsteps Of the
Prince of Peace" how else is the
proclamation, Peace on earth, good
will toward men," to be regarded ex-
cept as a severe and awful mockery?
1t has now been nearly two thou
sand years since Christ's mission on
earth. His disciples and followers
have belted the globe. Governments
have been instituted in his name, and
yet all the while these nations have
been nothing more nor less than a
military enacmpment.
What is the explanation? Who is
to be held responsible? Is nobody to
be arraigned? Processing to be fol-
lowers of Christ are we to permit
these things to go on forever?
1t seems to us that his missionaries
are at fault. 1t seems to us that in
stead of leading the world into the
footsteps of the Master they have
permitted themselves to be led away
from His footsteps and into the
footsteps that lead in the direction
of angry and wrathful war.
In an article just reprinted from
the pen of Editor Watterson of the
Courier-Journal, he used this strong
and lforceful language:
There have been wars and wars.
AS far as history reaches backward
blood has been the single recourse
of diseased ambition, the only balm
for wounded pride. There have been
wars and wars; dynastic wars; re-
ligious wars; territorial wars; but
never war like this; heroism driven
from the earth, mercy vanished from
the heavens; individuality lost in brut-
ish multitudes and death-dealing ma
chinery; pity fed, generosity dead, in
place of glory, the gluttony of greed
and hate, the agencies of blind, un-
sparing destruction. Reflection
stands aghast, pity appalled,; yet
there must be an end-it cannot last
forever-and, when it is over-when
murder has done its worst, when ex-
haustion hangs limp over barren
fields and despair stares gaunt and
silent into the lannon's mouth, may
hap Thought will still hover about
the scene and Reason whisper to
those that survive it's horrors; may
hap, at dead of night, the Christ shall
steal through the shadows to fasten
His spirit upon the souls of men.
Then, but not till then. our time will
come"
1t has not been very long since
the German emperor claimed if not
partnership with, at least sanction
ship of God; that he was an instru-
ment, he claimed, in Gods hands and
ruled by divine right
In a little while what spectacle
was presented to us?
In the dead hour of night murder
GUS bombs were dropped from aero
planes over the sleeping city of Ant
werp.
This was not the cowardly perform
ance of the riff-raff and rabble of an
army, but was the work of those hold
ing high official rank, and as we have
heard nothing to the contrary this
work of diabolism must have receiv-
ed the approval and applause of the
one who proclaims himself the vice
gerent of God.
Was ever a murder more foul?
Was ever thing like it before in the
history of the world?
What else was done?
Under the protection of a dense
fog-without word or warning to nom
combatants-an unfortified city was
fired upon, and women and children
and little babes in arms were killed
with murderous shells.
This was the performance of Off
GERS high in rank, and for the hell
ish work they received the approval
and applause of the man who claims
to rule by divine right.
A few Sundays ago a man in the
Charlestown, Mas, prison was allow
ed the privilege of walking in the
aisle and attending chapel service for
the first time in thirty three years.
In all those years this man had
been kept in solitary confinement.
What for?
When a mere lad, perhaps in the
heat 0f naSSion he bod foIyap q h.,