The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-01-18

l AM not going to inquire into the causes
Of the war nor try to tx the RESPONSE
bility. This is not because I have no
definite opinions upon the subject. or take
too seriously the Presidents warning about
being neutral. l do not see how anybody
who uses his intelligence can be neutral as
to the causes Of this war. do not see how
anybody with moral perceptions can be neu'
trail as to the wrongs committed.
do not believe a worse misfortune could
befall the men and women Of the United
States than to shut their eyes and take an
attitude Of clam-like Indifference and allow
this great calamity to 60 on without giving
expression to their feelings and wrath We
are bound. as q moral people, to have opin'
ions and we are bound. even obliged. to e.
press them.
We are deluged with newspaper and oratori'
cal arguments in regard to the documents
given out by the great powers-the orange
papers. the red papers. the white papers. and
all the rest of them. We are expected to get
our ideas clarified and see into the heart OF
the matter by examining these always one
sided and partial explanations. We all know,
particularly those of US who have come from
any Of the powers engaged In this war, that
back of these papers there lies the great force
which has paralyzed the statesmanship OF
Europe for whole generation-the system OF
miltarism which has resulted In converting
the industrious citizens Of these states into
warriors and the peaceful fields into arenas
Of battle.
The military caste is essentially part OF
the military regime Of Kaiserisms and Gar
doms which represent political ideals Of ma
HonaI glory national predominance and hugo
servilo empires. Along with these things go
secre, alliances, balances Of power. and 50
forth.
The world has become an industrial world
and therefore OF necessity a peaceful world.
We have come to discover and realize that
war is not only horror. but Is also an extraor.
binary dislocation OF ordinary life. Men and
women must toll that they may live and bring
up their children in the ways OF peace and
honor, but they are not permitted to do this.
These insatiate and irresponsible diplomats and
others at their will. throw the world into
chaos. The political organization Of the world
has not kept pace with its social and and in
dustrial organization The industrial world
calls for democratic socialized organization.
and we have instead a military diplomatic
organization which controls the destlnies VI
the workers Of the world.
When two men get into fight, II 1t IS
serious one, they become totally Indifferent
to the rights Of the bystanders; they shoot
at each other not caring whether they hit an
innocent outsider or not. They do not care
how much they disturb the traffic or inter-
fere with the rights Of others. In their self
centred rage they are entirely oblivious Of the
rights of others. So it is with belligerent nations
going to war; They assume that the earth
belongs to them. If two powers, from purely
diplomatic reasons. with which their cti.
gems nave no real concern. conclude that the
only way to settle disputed diplomatic ques.
ton is by fighting they Immediately take pos
session of the earth for that purpose. and the
peaceful citizens Of the world are expected
to take what is coming to them part o.
the game.