The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-19
United States Pursues Two
Faced Policy In Supplying
War Munitions Says Minister
KEY TO WORLD CRISIS
in AMERICAS HANDS
Our Duty. Says Mr.. Eggleston.
Is To Foster Brotherhood
and Conserve Peace and
We Repudiate It

Should the United States furnish
war supplies TO the warning nations Of
Europe?" asked Rev. ]. r. Eggieston
in his sermon last night in Asbury
Methodist Church. In the light Of
the highest authority. the Bible, Mr..
Eggleston declared he nnds himself
on the negative side OF the question.
Unanswerable reasons why this ma
ton should not furnish war munitions
20 beliigerent nations were presented
by Mr.. Eggieston before he answered
the arguments Of those who favor
furnishing such supplies.
To furnish lighting nations with
materials for killing people IL 10 pur-
sue two-faced policy" he declared.
II know we American people do not
intend that. but such course means
that. Our nation Ii the greatest ex-
We are lovers OF peace. We are per-
suaded that arbitration. not war. Is
the only redress of the honor and
rights Of nations. We are on record
in twenty peace agreements today as
being opposed to war and pledged to
arbitration In view of this. to sell
munitions OF war to the parties OF
the European war makes US virtually
the propagandists of two-faced policy
As an aspect In the eyes Of the world
we are a 'sandwiched man. having
good will toward men and as the
other side war supplies for sale
We Hold the Terminus.
I'VE hold the terminus OF this war
In our hands. No nation ever held
the keys of q world crisis as the
United States holds the keys OF this
European struggle Previously. when
nations were At war, munitions OF war
could be bought Of other countries
other than the United States. Today.
with the exception OF the United
4tates. practically all nations that
make and sell war supplies are en-
ragged in this Titanic struggie. II "
an open admission that II we should
refuse the expectation OF war sup
pIies the war would speedily end
As . neutral nation we are faced
with this situation. We can prolong
this war indefinitely by providing en-
zines OF death and destruction. or We
can cut II short by refusing the ex-
portatton OF arms, and thus end an
Understandable horror. And. further.
we cannot make the plea that the
beliigerents would buy from Others II
not from us. or that any American
interest Ii 1T stake. In such pre-
mise our course II clear. We just can
not furnish the fighters OF Europe
with fighting material.
Civil and Moral Wrong.
AGAIN. II is a civil wrong to do
no. II the course of the United States
in selling war supplies to these po-
lernic nations was pursued by an In
dfyidual In helping another bent on
killing. thar individual would be sub
Sected 60 accessory charges ana Ia
dicted and condemned OF murder In
the first degree in any criminal court
Of the land. The United States today
in the eyes OF the world - guilty. OF
tirst degree murder.
Lastly, II II q moral wrong to abet
these nations In war. 1t is the re-
ligious duty of every Christian nation
10 foster the brotherhood OF man ana
10 conserve the peace. the life ana the
property Of men and nations THIS
cannot be done by war or aiding IN
war. To abrogate these high moral
principles Is to repudiate Christ ana
His ideals and standards. Our con-
science forbids the furnishing OF war
munitions.
Eat this 1uncture We turn TO answer
the arguments in favor OF furnishing
supplies for the European war.
IneernatioFkal Law.
aOne argument produced In favor
q iurnise .,s.errsttor.T isv me
oOedienee ,..a~r.t ,on.I lav In this
question 2. - 80 ridicuios,s. and
war y smus.ns .,, mi. internationai
iAn9nans sn,c,, ~ heard 70 much
~ .e.luc l. . rcr,,latson OF ma
eoout q tneo rsutrsl nations in
mons q 80 aa ~, nn.ea 81 4 multi
the TINS ~ w rr,ysla~ea ana re-
pncisy o. ~ 30 hsys not time TO
$500 ma =, ~. ctscc ana reality In
s~s.s..r 4 !. 4 creation OF Europe
s eA war ~ nnnsred years
1Ir ~ s. -. rsn,diated ON all
~ 49, Iss...xr,.rf Tho
sNu Win cry tor -rnr,ntsr Of peace