New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-21
The Friends of Peace.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you please print the following
address by the Friends of Peace to the peo-
ple of the United States?
"For the first time in the history Of the
world, more than twenty millions Of people
have gotten earnestly and actively to work
in behalf Of peace A national convention
will be called to order in Chicago on Septem-
Der 5. which promises to take rank as the
greatest and most earnest meeting ever heId
tc advance the cause of right.
"Those who are engaged in the attempt to
make the United States a militarist nation
are endeavoring to hold back the cooperation
Of the American public by declaring that the
Chicago convention Of the Friends of Peace
was at its inception in the hands OF German
Americans. 1t is true that these citizens
realizing acutely the horrors of war from the
hourly loss of relatives and friends, have
been the most earnest in the movement
But the American people are fortunate in
having the appeal we are now making backed
by some twenty millions Of citizens-German'
Americans or of German-American descent.
Hitherto it has been impossible to rouse
the American people to determined effort in
behalf of peace. Now, those engaged in the
effort to make the United States militarist
nation are declaimng that the Chicago con-
vention Of the Friends Of Peace is not ma
t;onal in its character, because its inception
was in the hands of German Americans.
but those at the head of the movement
to-day are Americans, actuated solely by their
fear of militarism and their desire for peace
between nations. Let not any one who sin
cerely believes seek to ease his conscience
for failure to cooperate by assigning the
Germans as the cause of his lukewarmness.
"If you sincerely favor peace and oppose
militarism, now is the time TO act, when
others are acting; when so large a mass OF
American citizens are aroused upon this sub
iect. The battlehelds of Europe fill the souls
of mankind with horror. The torture Of hui
mainly cries out in protests. Civilization
itself seems threatened.
"If you are ever TO do effective work in
behalf of peace, the hour has come to act.
ITO stand at such time and hesitate to
act because some in the movement are not
your kind is to betray the cause you have at
heart.
"If you are sincere, you must do your part
now that the opportunity has come.
81 appeal to all men who realize the dan
gers of militarism.
"As chairman of the committee having in
charge the preparations for this convention,
appeal to all associations Of generous
minded men and women who wish to sec
peace established upon earth. appeal to a.!
religious denominations who hold the teach
ings Of Jesus Christ or teach the doctrines of
humanity; appeal to all societies whose aim
is 70 better the conditions of their fellow
men and women, to put themselves alongside
Of those already active in this movement.
ut is a great opportunity. The Chicago
convention will be the largest gathering ever
brought together in behalf Of a moral ideal
in behalf of that humanity which, for endless
centuries, has been trodden under foot by
the brutal ambitions of men. September 5
should mark the approach Of new era
JOHN BRISBEN WALKER,
Chairman of the National Convention Com
mittee of the Several Societies United I'm
der the Name of The Friends Of Peace.
New York, Aug. 10, 1915.