Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-10-10
BY b. S. CROSS.


usually, universally criticised and
condemned as one OF the mentally
weak and foolish creatures Of this
world. When he takes the life OF an.
other for treasure, or because of dis
agreement Of any sort, he is general
ly abhOrred and condemned to death.
If men volunteer to go to war for
their masters to be targets for the
volunteers Of other masters-fOr the
gain Of all the masters--these foolish
men on both sides are committing
both suicide and homicide. The mas
tiers and rulers who drive or lure
them on are cold blooded murderers
of the first degree All are partially
insane.
There is no glory in war Nations
have gained freedom from tyranny by
war, but they should have had free
dom without war. A war to subju-
gate Is wholly wrong, yet half right
for those whose rights and liberties
are at stake.
The cause Of all wars is the evil
II. man. Evil and good are facts in
nature. They make mans dual ma
ture as oxygen and hydrogen form
water Evil afflcts society like dis
ease germs aftlict the physique. San
elligence-reasoncan destroy
both the evils that destroy civilization
and the germs Of disease. War is
the contamination of germs of evil.
Society is socially diseased.
We spend part Of our lives, much
money and mental energy trying to
keep healthy and strong. At the
same time we make weapons of MUIR
der and scientifically train millions
OF men to kill the strong men we
strive to rear. If we knew of a val
ley filed with deathly gases, we
would not enter it, yet we lose our
wisdom and do worse-murder and
commit suicide in the midst of plenty
or the battle fields Of savagery's
black night. Are we sane?
Wars may be classed in two class
es. Wars Of robbery and wars of
religious fanaticism. But cause Of
all wars is the same. Selfshness is
the cause of war-Selfishness and
greed. Selfishness eevr seeks wealth
hold i,,r
to hold it's gaines and further spread
its fame. When indiv; duals or ma
lions set their minds solely on wealth
fame and power, human flesh and
blood come second for consideration
The. evil in mantle inherited say
agery and Observation-Disclosures the
culture Of centuries nd we revert
go back to the dark ages when whole
nations wandered, warred and robbed
-and-tfinally fell victims Of theil
own system Of national life.
The great European war is called
by some "a War for Greater Com
merce," by some, "A War Of Sla'
and Teuton," and by others, "a Wa
for National ACKNOWLEDGEMENT"
1t i. war for spells and for pow
err To obtain both, each ruling clas
in the seevral nations wishes to b.
first, commercially. Commerce mean
wealth, and wealth means power Af
ter expanding and subjugating a
much of the earth as possible, afte
depressing the masters to the limi
at home, economically, each maste
class wants the great markets Of tn
world in which to sell surplus pre-
ducts, which many people need a
home, but are unable to buy. TIL
masters and rulers are wealth mad
they are power-mad to acquire ant
hold that wealth by force and intimi
dation, therefore, they are war-mad
and insane militarism dominates AM
curses the earth with death, cripples
destruction, debt and miseries untold
Are we sane?
What more? l repeat, war is mul