Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-17
The War and It's Lessons
Address Of President Butler at the opening OF
Columbia University

back IN the primeve forest with the elemental brute
passions finding truly nendish expression The only
apparent use OF science is to enable kill other
men more quickly and in greater numbers The only
apparent service Of philosophy is 70 make the
appear tho better The only apparent evidence
OF the existence OF religion the fact divergent
and impious appeals to palpably pagan God have
led Him in perpexed distress TO the affairs
OF Europe to an active and singulary accomplished
devil
What are we 20 think? Is science u sham? II phil
osophy pretense7 is religion rumor3 IL the
great international structure OF friendship, goodwill
and scholarly cooperation upon which this univer-
sty and many OF it's members have worked long,
so faithfully. and apparently with much success
only llusion7 Are the long and devoted labors OF
scholars and Of statesmen TO Justice
place Of Force in the world all without effect?
Are Lowelrs lines true
Right forever on the scaffold
Wrong forever the throne?
The answer IL No; Thousand times, Mo-
We a neutral nation, and the president has
rightly enjoined all TO observe neutrality speech
and in deed But neutrality Is not indifference; It Ia
not the neutrality OF the casual passerby who views
with amused carelessness a fight between two street
rowdles; 1t Is the neutrality OF the Just judge who
aims without passion and without prejudice. to rem
der Judgment the proved facts We cannot IL we
would, refrain from passing judgment upon the
duct OF whether singly in nations, and we
should not attempt 10 do
In the first place the moral judgment OF the
American people to this and TO the several
steps In the declaration conduct OF It, clear
calm and practically unanimous There Is no beating
OF drums and blowing of bugles. but rather sad
pain and grief that our kin across the sea, owing
whatever allegiance and speaking whatever tongue
are engaged In public murder and destruction the
most stupendous scale recorded in history. This of
Itself proves that the education OF public opinion has
proceeded far, and. whatever the war-traders and
miltarists may say that the heart OF the American
people is sound and it's head well-informed. The att
tuds OF the American press Ii worthy OF the highest
N notnbla high-Water
mark OF dignity and power has been reached. When
the war-clouds have lifted believe that the moral
judgment of the American people as to this will
to be that OF the sober-mlnded and fair minded
men in every country Of Europe.
Next It must not he forgotten that this war was
made by kings and by cabinets II not decreed by
peoples, ! testify that the statement that kings
and cabinets forced into the by public sent-
ment Is absolutely untrue far at least several
the belligerent nations concerned Certainly
not than two the chosen representa-
tves OF the people consulted at all. tiny majority
in each OF the several countries may have desired
war but the mlltarst spirit singularly sexing
among the masses of the population. People gener
ally simply accepted with grim resignation and
reluctant enthusiasm the conflict, which in each
they taught 10 believe has forced them by
another's aggression.
The significant statement that heard in
Europe was made TO me the third day of August
last by German railway servant, grzzIed veteran
OF the Franco-Prussian
In reply TO my question as to whether he would
have to go to the front. the old said: mo;
too old. I "a But my four boys went yesterday.
God help theml And hate to have them GO For,
SIR" he added in lowered voice. this Is not
pies war; It Is Rings war; and when II is there
may not be so many kings"
Again a final END has now been put to the conten-
ton always stupid and often nsncere. that huge
ornaments insurance against war; and an aid
in maintaining peace. This argument was invented
by the wartraders who had munitions OF war TO sell
and nothing more than an advertisement for their
business. Sundry politicians many newspapers, and
not a few good people who are proud to have their
thinking done for them accepted this advertisement
as profound political truth. Its falslty is plain
10 every one. Guns and bullets and armor are not
made TO take tho place of postage stamps and books
and laboratories other instruments OF civilization
and OF peace they made to Kill people Since war
Is an affair of and of armies one result
OF the present should be 20 make the manufacture
and sale OF munitions OF war government monopoly
hereafter This is case where Invasion OF the held
OF liberty by government would do good not harm
Then too the export of munitions Of war from one
country to another should be absolutely forbidden
When that happens. the taxpayer VIII be able TO see
just how money spent and TO check the expend-
ture and the powerful war-trader with his lines of
influence In every parliament house and in every
ohaneelIsry, win be eliminated.
IL seems pretty clear that when the present huge
supplies OF guns and ammunition used up in the
contest now going no civilized people VIII ever
again permit its government to enter into competi-
tive armament The time may not De 30 very Tar
distant when be tho first moral power In the world
will be a considerably greater distinction than to be
tho fret military power. even the second naval
poNer which latter goal is constantly and so suouy
urged on the people OF the United states How any
owe not nit subject for mad.house find in the
awful events now happening In Europe reason for
Increasing the military and naval establishments and
expenditures of the United States, Is to me wholly
lnconceivable
Another great gain is to be found In the fact that
| no one is willing 10 be responsible for this war
Every combatant alleges that he Is on the oeiehsVs'
and s,nan,ons his fellow-eountrymen who are scien
lists and philosophers TO find some way to prove It.
The old claim that part OF the moral order
God-gfven instrument for the spreading OF enrsht'
| enmsnt and the only real training school for the
manly virtues is Just in state OF eclipse Each
one OF the several begerent nations insists that It
and It's government-are devoted friends OF peace and
that II IL at only because war was forced upon
Nv the acts OF some one As TO who that SONG one
| else Is n has not yet BEEN possible to get unani