The Detroit times., 1915-06-17
Secretary Fears In
crease Might Bring
on War
HAS PRAISE
FOR PRESIDENT
DenOunces Prepared
ness" as Means to
Keep Peace

WASHINGTON, June 17.-Former
Secretary of State William Jennings
Bryan's second installment OF 1.-THE
causeless war" made It's appearance
today.
The statement was, in part, as fol-
lows:
THE conflict now raging in Eu-
rope has been described as The
Causeless War but, since no one
would be bold enough to lay the
blame for such an unholy situation
upon an overruling Providence, 1t
must find its origin in acts for which
man and man alone is responsible.
Race, religion and family, each
with many wars to answer for, can
plead not guilty In the present in
quiry.
IF have correctly analysed the
situation. the war is the natural re-
suit OF a false philosophy. The
fundamental precept of this false
philosophy is that might makes
right
THE individual makes this maxim
his excuse for violating three COM
mandments that stand in his way;
this maxim also leads nations to
violate the same three command
ments for the same purpose but on a
large scale.
''Coveteousness turns to might as
the principle TO be invoked and the
greater the unlawful desire, the firm
err the faith in the false principle.
Conquest is the word used to
describe the means for securing the
thing desired, II the force Is en-
ployed by a nation, and conquest vio-
iates the commandments, Thou
Shalt Not Steal and Thou Shalt
Not Kill"
by what sophistry can rulers con-
vince themselves that, while petit
larceny is criminal, grand larceny
is patriotic; that while 1t Is repre-
hensible for one man to kill another
for his money. 1t is glorious for one
nation to put to the sword the in
habitants of another nation in order
to extend boundaries?
"As in the case of the individuals
the violation of the commandments
Thou Shalt Not Covet. Thou Shalt
Not Steal, and Thou Shalt Not XIII
are usually traceable to the viola
ton of the first great commandment
Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods
Before Me-that is, to the putting
OF self before service Of the creator
"The soldier always exhibits I'M
selfishness OF high order. but as a
rule conflicts are waged for selfish
ends.
"If I have made It clear that the
doctrine that might makes right is
the most common cause Of war, We
may pass to the consideration OF a
maximum quite sure to be applied in
war, namely, that like cures like
the theory upon which retaliation
rests.
There are many believers In the
gospel Of force who have brought
themselves to think that cruelty can
be cured by greater cruelty-that
the only way to win an antagonist
away from inhuman acts is to sur
pass him in humanitics. Absurdity
of absurditiesl
There was a time when men
openly advocated war as thing TO
be desired.
Now all join in the chorus for
peace. And how, according TO the
LIMOGES, shall peace be insured? by
preparedness say these sons OF
Mars. Stand with finger on a hair
trigger musket and preserve peace
yes, preserve 1t until someone, by
accident or design, gives the signal
then all fall upon each other with
cries for blood.
Half the energy employed In pre-
pairing for war would effectually
prevent war II used in propagating
the principles which makes for
peace.
THE doctrine that preparedness
will prevent war will not stand the