The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-23

"In my Judgment the United Sta,.-
could and should ask for an immediate
conference of the neutral nations Of the
world i'm order to sec what, If anything,
can be douc-if not tn end "A disastrous
wa. to at least modify and soften IT'S
horrors and reform its methods | lind
that the neutral countries. and elim.nat"
;he semi-bdrharous countries, have go
600. 900 Of people
"There are people starving in New
York tonight because Of this great war.
There is suffering from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific because Of this war. II there
was no immediate suffering yet the very
foundations of civilization are being
sapp"d h, this war
Taking up the objections. Mr.. Beck dis
cussed first tn opportunity which the war
gives the United States Of Selling the trade
OF the war.
81 dcnounce that" he cried. 'as the
Judas lscaro; policy which would brand
this Government with eternal infamy.'
81 believe that this nation is the grea'
organ OF civilization" he said: that It
ought 10 gather about its council boa I'd
with the President of this republic the
representatives of every neutral Power,
and then consider how they can best bring
TO bear on the contending nations the
ideas of such pacific nations that once
again the Scourge of war may pass away
and that once again may be said, as was
said on the first Christmas eve, Peace
OF earth good will 10 men"
Liberty Fight. Says DR.. Eliot.
Mr.. Beck as the last speaker had
really reached the climax of the discus
sion of the evening, which was about the
war. \. Barton Hepburn, retiring pres-
dent of the society, sounded that note
in his introductory remarks. He re-
ferred to the gloom in which the world
was plunged. and he called on DIR. Eliot
TO discuss The Forefathers' Day"
DR.. Eliot in his first sentence referred
10 the War between the forces of lib
erty and tho forces OF despo,ism and
discipline"
This is a war" he said. on which all
our sympathies are on the side Of ma
tons that are fighting for liberty Re-
cent events in Europe have satisfied many
Americans that the essential difference
between the nations is a difference Of
ideals
Thus the difference between Germany
and Great Britain is that the principal
ideals OF the one are national efficiency
through forceful discipline. and domina-
ton over other peoples as the result OF
that efficiency. while the governmental
ideals OF the other since Magma Charta
and Cromwells Commonwealth have a..
ways contained a large element of pub
lie liberty and individual Independence.
The fundamental cause OF the Euro
pean war Is the difference in the ideals
OF government, national greatness and
national welfare Of Germany and Austria
on the one hand and of France and Great
Britain on the other. The principal di:-
ference between the people OF the United
States and the nations OF Europe is a
difference Of ideals concerning human
welfare and the means of promoting it,
the ideals OF the United States conta in.
ing much larger element Of liberty for
the individual and OF public confidence in
the fruits OF liberty than any European
nation excepting Switzerland"
Or. Lyman Abbott pictured the accom-
plishments OF 'hIs country in the course
of his own lifetime. Turning to the nccns.
SHY for an inquiry into national dcfcnces
ne said
"Our present President tells us that we dc
no know tho facts regarding our army anC
navy that w. don't know whether 1t u
efficient or Inefficient. and, gentlemen, W,
"nsl' 10 know. rho American people hdv
riElt to know, y democracy must know
ITS weaknesses ~ wen as its strength
VINO, looking With those telescope eye
which tho pres furnishes rs daily, aCros
The Atlantic Ocean aud listening To III.
h)"nl ~ the cannon, tho croaNs Of tn,
ding and the sobhing of the women anr
"'N!!r n, Who ,tu doubt thal ttirtr is il
me world 'et harbHrsm that regard!
mghi as right and acknowledges no al
IoSlall'e and no loyalty Except force