The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-10-15
WAR VS.. CIVILIZATION
(BY IsIDoR COHEN =


threatens an appalling destruction OF
life, devastation of homes and prop
erty, and a general paralysis o.
commerce. fills the mind With doubt
as TO Civilizations boasted mastery
OF the physical world
The present crisis indicates that
nessher science nor religion could
disarm forces OF nature which are
actively and persistently engaged in
maintaining the worlds equilibrium
1t seems. that human conflict IS
one of the means nature employs
in checking the over popnla-|
ton of this planet It is brought
into violent action by greed, super
sutton. tyranny. racial antagonism
and injustice 1t is closely allied to-
destructive epidemics, famines AMI
commissions of nature. These agenc-l
les have manifested themselves with
variable force ever since man be-
came capable of observation and
understanding and they are now re-
garded as the inevitable accompani-I
ment OF the supreme struggle going
on thruout nature.
The prudential check to excessive
reproduction, noted among indiYidn-
ais of the races of people, which is
attributed to economic pressure, is
analogous to the greater check eff
fected by the more formidable agen-
cies. and bears a striking resembl
ance to the lesser ravages of life,
such as homicides, suicides and for
tutious extinction of life. All of
which constitutes a force which
man, as yet, is unable to resist, and
which seems to be in harmony with
the fnexorable laws OF nature that
govern life upon the earth.
In view of this assumption we
cannot avoid the conclusion that
the present catastrophe. which men
aces the lives of many nations is not
an ALTERATION of nature, but is in
strict conformity to the scheme of
life.
1t is Uncomfortable to think that
such highly civilized nations as
England, France and Germany
should voluntarily plunge into a
war of mutual determination.
Their insistent d;savowals Of the re-
sponsibility for this bloody con-
fiict supports the nationality OF the
supposttion that it has been brought
into action by other than physical
influences.
For this reason, if for no other,
the sympathies of the rest of the
world should be freely and indis-
fortunately extended to the unfor-
tunate human beings whom re1ent-
less fate is urging to kill and be
killed
The writer's conception and inter-
probation of wars in general, and
this present clash in particular,
should appeal to the native sons of
the beligerent countries whom good
fortune has placed Under the beneg-
client protection of this great nation:
SO that instead of abandoning their
peaceful pursuits in land where
the brutalizing influence proceeding
from the malevolent agencies refer
red to above, Dis yet unfelt, they
should divert their impulsiVe pa
triotism, by which they are moved
to swell the toll of death, to the
more noble purpose of eementing
their allegiance to the flag which
stands as an emblem of peace. unity
and progress.
Patriotism for ones native land
is worthy of the highest commenda-
ton. las the integrity of every ma
ton depends upon the presence OF
this sentiment among its units How
ever, when ones interests are trans
planted into a foreign land whose
liberal laws insure personal free
dom of conscience. political liberty,
Industrial expansion, and unrestrfct-
ed intellectual development, then, it
is more honorable to repress the
impules of joining the martial fore
es of ones native country than to
forsake the high ideals in the land
of his adoption
It is to be hoped that the very IN
tensity of the fighting spirit of the
warning nations will accelerate its
speedy extinction And that the
contemplation of its resultant hor-
rors will prove to be the cruical
test of mans superior intellect. so
that the present terrible experience
will teach the hostile nations to
unite in common quest of a solu-
tion of the many intricate problems
of life which prevent the proper adj
iustment of mankind to external