Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-08
WHY WAR?


from whence come wars and
fighting among you? Come they
not hence, even Of your lusts
which was in your members?
Games 4-1.) my kingdom Is
not of this world; If my kingdom
was of this world, then would my
servants fight" Christ to plate,
John 1860
Editor Courier: After more than
three years of old shut-in life, / have
shifted around until have landed at
my sons home, where the good old
"Ottumwa Courier" is received and
read, and after searching through your
paper two weeks had about concluded
that the dreadful war news from
Europe had crowded the Peoples Pull
pit out of The Courier, but l found to
my satisfaction that it had not, so
concluded to write for it once more,
even II am only a poor old shut-in
and have to write with pencil For
love the truth and l cannot get out to
chautauquas and conventions and camp
meetings and conferences, and talk to
the people from the platform, pulpit,
and pew, by voice and speech, as used
to do, yet am glad to be able to sit
up and write and teach the people the
way of truth in Christ, by pen, or pen
Gil and paper, although l am aware
that truth on this subject of Christian
ity and war Is so exceedingly unpopu-
lar, that editors and publishers do not
like to publish 1t any more than preach
ers will preach it, or hearers will prac-
tice 1t. But am glad to know that
there are papers like The Courier,
whose columns are open to the discus
sion Of all subjects, civil or military,
political or religious, sacred or secular,
And if do not teach the way of truth,
l will thank any man, woman or child
editor, publisher or preacher to set me
right.
Many years ago was taking the Des
Moines Daily News, when the editor
came out with short editorial, headed
with the above question, "Why War;"
He then called our attention to the fact
that the Russians and Japanese were
killing each other by the wholesale at
Port Arthur and asked the question,
"Why is it," He then said, "The ques-
ton is answered in one word = civil.
ization, = because they are not civil
lied"
| thought to myself are you willing
to contend that we were not civilized
nation, when we went to war over the
question of the union of the states? So
I wrote a criticism of what he said, and
answered his question "Why war?"
And I said to him, you say ut is be-
cause they are not civilized" say 1t
Is because they are not Christianized
is why they fight. I said to him, that
this spirit of fight runs through the
whole animal kingdom, from the mouse
to the mastadon, from the ant to tho
elephant, from the lamb to the lion,
from the monkey to the man said
the Creator had not only given every
thing this disposition to fight, to resent
an assault or make one, but he has sup
piled everything with ways and weap-
ons of defense or assault.
Man is the only animal that have
ever read, or heard Of, that has sought
out many inventions and ways and
weapons of destruction for himsef, his
fellow man, and the balance of the ami
NAL kingdom And to try to civilize
this spirit of fight out of men, is like
trying to get rheumatism out of the
system, by rubbing IMMINENT where the
pain Is. It may give momentary relief