The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-27

sihle too rational and too Christian"
Yrt thoee wars Of a hundred years ago
ara utterly outcIassed by the present
struggle not only in numbers engaged
hut I'm the methods and means Of fight
ing Now the cont esting Armies num-
her into the millions whore before
there were bat tens n hundreds of
thousands: and the lines Of battle eS
tend three or four hundred miles in
stead eff maximum NJ ten miles:
aud b2attEes continue for weeks or
months instead of being fought out
in a single day. Indeed little pause is
made even for the rignrs of. winter
All the numbering machines that in
ventive genius and applied science
could create are used to destroy life
ana property and devastate once fair
and fruitful countries
INSANITY HAS TAKEN PIACE
OF INTELLIGENCE IN WORLD
Does il not seem that Intelligence
has been thrown to the winds. and
that the widest insanity has taken
its place? Certainly there is a lack
of intelligence somewhere. or such
colossal tragedy a this now being en-
acted before our eyes would not have
been possible The question TO be ask
ed of our youth and of all men willing
to stop and consider the matter is this:
Has humanity sufficient intelligence
and common sense 10 find the path
above indicated and So avert future
sllniiag disasters? It is only matter
OF applied common sense. To build
up magnificent civilization only to
tear II down is the essence of foolish
ness II another century will build as
rorrcspondingiy greater civilization as
the last century did than what preced-
ed It, only To make possible war as
much more destructive than this war
H. -
the Napoleouc wars, then it is not
worth white TO preserve and continue
civilization for such a disaster. bet
ter burn our school h ouses, govern
ment buildings and churches and go
back 20 the jungle. Better put life on
tle level OF the tooth and the claw
than on the level of the sabre and the
cannon
Let us suppose that on certain
school playground there are several
cliqueS Of boys, and that each clique
has the fXed idea that its rights and
aspirations are superior 10 those OF
al the rest In the midst OF this bit
ter rivalry imagine that all of the
cliques have managed to arm them
selves. each in the fear Of being beaten
10y the others What will he the re-
suit Sooner or later "a clash will
come on that playground, and the
preparation for 1t will certainly make
lit all the worse when IL does come.
Now, what would be the rational
remedy The first duty of the teach
er school board or the police would
he to disarm the cliques. But suppose
there were no teacher. school board
or police in reach. Then the only
thing 10 do would be to let the fool
ish school boys fight until they have
sense enough to combine, If ever, and
agree in the interest of and for tho
safety and the highest ideals of all.
to turn all the weapons over to a com
mitteo composed of representatives
chosen hy all the cliques. aid weapons
TO he used only by a few chosen boys
under the contro' and direction of the
composite central committee. and only
for Keeping the peace among the fac
tons and for protection from out
side enemies.
Would not that appear to the aver
age American school boy rational
aud desirable method Of setting the
factions free from their plight so that
each might happily work out its ideals
Of play or work?
Are the grown men of this genera
ton as rational az those school boys?
Is not the remedy for war among the
nations exactly the same in principle
an that of the supposed fighting Of the
cNques Of boys on the playground?
Many times, before our young men
and women and all sorts of audiences,
our orators and leaders in the past
have praised the valor and glory OF
militarism, have stirred up patriotic
fervor and worship of n particular ma
tionai flag. causing applause by some
timely reference 10 ruler or military
hero. That sort of thing should no
longer he possible. At leas, some In
every audience, even Of intelligent
school boys should disapprove. know
ing that NJ such stuff wars are made
ari always will nc as long as II is en-
cnH~aFe1 aad tolerated The orator
of todsY who really thinks and who
feels rls position, particularly before
an audience Of young men, should
frankly admit that his generation
along with the generations that have
gore before has this world war ~
answer for. And If our generation
does not learn from the horrors ana
losses Of this cataclysm how to prevent
such wars IN future, all the past has
been in vain and this generation counts
for nothing III the procession Of the
ages VIII this generation. which has
} to bear the stain and strain OF this
war. miss the opportunity 10 make a
repetition Of ii impossihle7
WAR SACRIFICES THOSE IN
FLOWER OF MANHOOD
+ Il anyone is SO foolish as to argue
that wars are necessary to remove
surplus pepnlatieD Or to nreYept the
: rise of democracy or to carry forth
10 the world particular brand of ma
tional culture, 1t may he pointed out
that more rational method certainly
of removing surplus population would
be 10 sacrifice the inmates of homes
for incurahics. hospitaV, poor houses,
work houses. prisons, etc. than 10
sacrifice the Flower OF manhood---the
mast perfect specimens in the prime
Of life.
To prevent sacrificing our best to
the god OF war. let our press, our pub
lie forum and cur puIpits ring with
this conception of higher world au-
thorliy than we have yet achieved.
Let ms go beyond King. Kaiser or