Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-09-24
NATION URGED TO
PRAY FOR PEACE
United States Asked to Lead In
New Righteousness.
PEACE SOCIETY APPEALS,
Bulletin Asserts That Present Conflict
Gives to America a Chance to Teach
the Gospel of Humanity-Says Peace
Loving People Must Now Shoulder
responsibility.

the Gospel of Humanity-Says Peace
Loving People Must Now Shoulder
Responsi bility.
Washington.-"A message to the
American people" was issued by the
American Peace society. having head
quarters here. it was sent out by
Senator Theodore +. Burton, president,
and Arthur Deerin Can, cNecutive di-
rector The message follows:
The frightful consequences of the
present European conflict are likely to
he beyond the widest conjecture
Never before in the history of the
world have such large numbers of men
ana such quantities of armament been
engaged III mortal combat: never be
fore have such deadly machines OF
warfare been looScned i'll the destruc-
tion Of man ana of property Many
thousands of lives are being sacrificed
daily and will continue to he until this
terrible conflict is stopped.
"The causeS of the war are not hard
TO understand nor difficult to explain
tary and naval almamcnts by the ma
tionS of Europe. costing no less than
$1,000, 100000 annually. and com
pulSory military service have inevi
tably stimulated warlike spirit 1t
has been alleged that this vast cX-
pcnditure was for defense, that it was
for the maintenance of peace. but the
present war is an irrefutahle answer
to this argument Men unarmed are
not liable to commit murder: nations
unarmed do not engage in war. Again
certain sovercigns have had an inSati-
able ambition to increase their per
Sonal power and to extend the terri
torial limits of their country regardless
of the cost in men or money.
Then. too. there have been the in
tOlcrable secret alliances founded upon
an outgroWn conception of effective
statecraft. Added to these causes are
racial and religious anmOSiticS which
have existed for centuries and trade
rivalries and icalouSies which have
been constantly growing more acute.
THE burdens and miserieS of the
war will fall not 50 much upon the
SoyereignS of the nations engaged in it
as upon the millions of men who are
fighting in the ranks, upon the widows
and orphans in the homes which are
made deSolate and upon the genera
tions yet unborn. The wheels of indus
try are still, commerce is paralyzed
thousands of lives which can never be
restored are being sacrificed, and civil
liZation is turned back a hundred
years.
"In the midst of this distressing ca
lamity the peace loving people of
America have no small responsibility.
The president of the United States has
just asked that the fourth day of Octo-
Der be spent in prayer and supplica-
ton for a speedy termination Of this
bloodshed and woe. Ministers might
well deliver sermons calling attention
to the utter follies and irreparable
losses of war, not only on Oct. 4, but
the next Sunday and on every possible
occasion. A similar responsibility rests
upon lecturers and upon the press.
The various peace societies should
with renewed vigor bend their energies
toward creating universal sentiment
for international right reason. Such
efforts, eXerted by people of great
nation whose neutrality and good faith
are undoubted, cannot fail to have a
salutary effect. The time must inev-
itably come when the people of the
world will demand that the contro-
versies between nations shall be set
tied by some form of judicial proceed
ure similar to that now used in the set
tlement of controversies between indi-
viduals.
"The opportunity of the American
people seems at hand. The workers
for justice between nations may well
be Mortified, but they need not feel
discouraged. The cumulative disasters
following in the wake Of the armies
the futiIity of military theories. the
senseleSsness Of it all. are so apparent
that the constructive upbuilders Of
civilization may we'll believe that they
are soon to receive a new hearing be
fore the bar OF humanity. Let rs Of
America. remembering all that is best
and noblest in our traditions, do every
thing in Our power to carry forward
the banner Of the new international
righteousness. We .epcat. oEr rcsponsi-
bility and our opportunity are at hand.
''Therefore we urge upon peace low
ing people the country over the impor-
tance If immediately discussing among
themselves this terrible situation AMI
Of uniting in PRAYER and suppllcation
today and tomorrow and Of c0ntinu-
ing their efforts on each succeeding
day unit. world peaee Is restored