The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-19

10 often acted upon IN particular cases
BY those who would be unwilling to
indorse II a. = general principle.
The individual makes this maxim
his excuse for violating three com-
mandments that stand In his way:
this maxim also leads nations to ovio-
late these same three commandments
for the same purpose. but on . larger
scale.
Strange that men should fail to
apply to nations the moral principles
which are now so generally applied
! to the individual units OF a nation!
The tendency Is to condemn the
violation OF these commandments. not
IN proportion to the injury done. but
rather In inverse proportion. No one
win dispute the validity Of the injunc-
ton against coveteousness as long as
the object coveted IL of little value
or not greatly desired; but the last
and all inclusive specifications. viz.
or anything that Is they neighbours
IL sometimes interpreted by nations
to except q neighbor's vineyard
or a neighbor's territory Cow
etousness turns to might as tho
principle to be invoked and the great
er the unlawful desire the firmer the
faith in the false principle.
Violates Commandment.
Conquest Is the word used to de-
scribe the means employed for Sc
curing the thing desired, IL the force
is employed by nation. and con-
quest violates the commandment
thou shalt not steal and thou shalt
not kill.
by what sophistry can rulers con-
vince themselves that while petit lar
ceny Is criminal. grand larceny 10
patriotic; that while 1t Is reprehen-
sible for one man to kill another for
his money. II Is glorious for one ma
ton to put to the sword the inhab-
itants of another nation In order to
extend boundaries?
1T 10 q mockery of moral distinc-
tions to hang one man for taking the
life of another, either for money or
in revenge. and then make a hero Of
another man who wades through
slaughter to a throne, and shuts the
doors of mercy on mankind
AS In the case Of the Individual.
the violation of the commandments
Thou shalt not covet-Thou shalt
not steal-and Thou shalt not kill,
are usually traceable to the violation
Of the first great commandment, Thou
shalt have no other gods before Me
that Is. to he putting Of self before
service OF the Creator.
THE violation Of these command
ments by nations Ia not always but
usually due to selhshness-the putting
of supposed material advantages be-
fore obedience to the Divine Law.
WAR IL occasionally aItruistic In
purpose and the soldier always ex-
hibits unselfishness OF q high order.
but. az rule. conflicts an6 waged for
selfish ends.
The individual finds that Jeho-
vah's Justice cannot be evaied; for
wrongdoing works its own punish
ment on the wrongdoer in the form
OF perverted character. oven when he
escapes the penalties Of human law.
The nation Ii as powerless to repeal or
to ignore with impunity the laws of
God-though hand join In hand
they shall not be unpublished
IF I have made II clear that the
doctrine that might makes right is
the most common cause of war we
may pass to the consideration of
maxim quite sure to be applied In
war. namely. that like cures like
the theory upon which retaliation
rests.
Race to Bottomless Pit.
The two are so closely allied that
il is almost inevitable that those who
indorse the former will resort to the
iatter-one representing the spirit of
will, the other Its most familiar man
Hesitation. Rivalry for rivalry In
wrongdoing-a neck-and-neck race
toward the bottomless pit. And yet
there are many believers in the gos-
pei of force who have brought them
selves to think that cruelty can be
cured by greater cruelty-that the
only way to win an antagonist away
from inhuman acts is to suspass him
in inhumanities. Absurdity OF alb
surdities.
But might must find a pretext for
arning itself: and what's the pre-
text7 There was time when men
openly advocated war as a thing to
be uesired; commended It to each gen.
Grafton as sort of tonic to tone up
the moral system and prevent degen-
eracy, but we have passed that day.
Now, all Join In he chorus for
peace. And how, according to the
tingoes, shall peace be insured? BY
preparedness say these sons Of Mars.
Prepare, all prepare; equip yourselves
with the most modern implements Of
destruction: arm. drill, get ready: and
then stand with fingers on a barrel
of musket and preserve peace--you
preserve 1t until some one, by acci-
dent or design. gives the signai--then
all fall upon each other with cheer
for blood. Preparedness Is the kind
Nng; OPP poTtuHity is this match. ' ''af
We dare not trust the peace Of
the world to those who spend their
time in getting ready for wars that
should never come. Half the energy
employed In preparing for war would
effectually prevent war If used In pro-
pagating the principles which make
for peace.
paredness provokes war because II
Is impossible to coerce the people into
bearing the burdens incident to con-
tinuous and increasing preparation
without cuitivating hatred, AZ IL It
were a national virtue. There must
be some one to fear: some other pre-