The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-05-14
WILSON'S SPEECH.

At was notable utterance. lnlS
man, has always the ability to express
himself in the choicest diction and in
every line his speech breathes the
lOftiest and most humane of senti-
ments. He declares that we must
not think alone of America, but OF
all humanity, that nations like men
must be at times too proud to fight,
This is unquestionably beautiful
sentiment; it is humane and it is in
many respects Christlike. 1t is the
doctrine that one should turn the 9th
or cheek to the belligerent enemy.
It is, in effect, the Savior's prayer on
calvary, Forgive them, Father, for
they know not what they do"
This is splendid, but has civiliza-
ton advanced to the point where we
can safely depend upon moral sua-
sion in our intercourse with foreign
powers? Can this nation secure 10y
atty at home and respect abroad by
pursuing the course that Mr., Wilson's
remarks inevitably suggest? We are
frank to confess that we very serious.
~ doubt 1t.
1t has long been our hope and pray
or that the day of universal peace
was near, that the hour for the arbi-
4rament Of international disputes in
the parliament of nations" had al
most struck Events of the past year
have dispelled the illusion We have
seen solemn treaties referred to as
"mere scraps of paper" we have wit
messed the most fragrant outrages
against the law of nations; we have
seen the canons of civilization ruth
lessly set at naught, and we have
abundance of evidence that the die
fates of humanity avail nothing. In
the presence of these things can this
nation, any great nation, with obliga'
lions not only to its own but to com
mon humanity and to world civiliza
ton, afford to embrace too fully the
doctrines of the pacifsts?
The theory Of non-resistence, of Civ
ing thine enemy the other cheek is {
thing lovely to look upon. Compare
it with grim visaged war, with all 0
its attendant horrors, it's destruction
of property, its loss of lives, it's tol
of the innocent and the young ant
all its demoralizing influences ant
there is small wonder that many
very many, probably majority o
our citizens, in this crisis, are willin
to exclaim, Peace, peace, at an,
price," That this nation can affor
to take that position, we do not be
lieve. It's obligations now and in tn
future imperatively demand that
shall maintain its dignity and its hor
or. This does not mean war necesst
Tily, but the very moment that tn
powers of the world get the impre!
sion that America is a non-resistan
nation, that its people love peace be-
ter than national honor and glor!
that very moment we forfeit GU
place among the great nations {
earth. The paths of peace at an
price would inevitably lead US to
place with China.
We do not glorify or defy war.
is almost the last thing in this worl
that we would advocate but we Cal
not escape the conviction, in the ligf
Of history and of recent events, ths
there are some things for a natio
worse even than war, just as ther
are some things that the right minde
individual must know are worse tina
death. Loss of self-respect, crave
Seowardice, subserviency to other
forfeiture of the esteem of all maj
Kind, these things to the man Of ho
or and conviction, are worse tina
death. And so would war for the n
fion be better than loss of honor.
History tells us that our civiliz
zion, even the religion of the low
Christ, have been extended with Il
sword. Evangels of our religit
have gone forth with the sword
one hand and the Bible in the 9TH
TO convert the heather and the wor
and all that civilization holds des
have been the gamers. There ma
come a day, we trust that its dav
will not be too far delayed, when Il
policy Of the pacifists will be JUS
fed, when the tocsin Of war W
sound no more, but that time is n
yet, deeply as we regret to chronic
the fact.