The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-24
MUST EMANC|PATE
FROM PATRIOTISM"
Leads Nations TO shed Each
Others Blood.

New Haven, Conn, Oct. 2s--The
Rev. DR.. Charles Aked. formerly
pastor of the F1fth-Avenue Baptis,
Church. New York, in an address to.
night on AN International con.
science" before the National Council
of Congregational Churches. de-
nounced as base and disastrous. i'm
ment contained in the toast Our
country, right or wrong" He went
on to urge that an international con-
science backed by league of he
neutral nations, with the United
States at its head. could put an
end to this DEVILS work the
war-in two short months by refusing
AL intercourse with every one Of The
warning nations.
Must he Fmancipated
Before the masses of Europe can
shake from their limbs the chains of.
military despotism." said DR. AlSed.
they must first emancipate them
selves from the impalpable and mon
which masquerades as patriotism. We
In the land Of the free are slaves to
superstition. To this day we drink
the shameful toast: Our country, in
her intercourse with foreign nations.
may she be always right. But our
country, right or wrong Such a
sentiment Is base in its conception
and disastrous in, it's results. 1t is
immoral through and through.
1T means that a stretch of country
is of greater consequence TO you than
the eternal principles or right; thnr
equity. justice and honor are merely
municipal and local ordinances: that
truth IS n thing Of the tent or tribe:
morality a matter of maps and
mileage, and love question OF lati-
tude and longitude. 1t makes of God
term OF geography We tolerate it.
We defend IT. From this base con-
eeption Of our country the transition
is easy to Kaiser or King. President
or Chancellor or Secretary # State.
There is no international conscience
to condemn.
"A league of neutral nations is Pos
sihie--not only ideally possible but
one Of the probabilities of the
hour. This league might demand ar
bitration. They could compel 1.-THE
United States leading on--wf.hout
striking a blow or shedding one drop
OF blood They could If they had
the grace and a courage, refuse al
supply to Europe one dollar OF money.
nitions of war until fighting ceased.
And then the neutral nations could
see to II that AZ far as human wis
dom enables mortAls to accomplish
It. the right thing. the Just thing.
and that alone, should be done
through the Judgment of its own in
ternational court. And which Is
likely to give the world an approach
OF justice and a promise of perma-
a 10
conqnerer to bleeding and exhaust
ed foe or the calm elaboration OF the
wisest and noblest men of the neutral
nations of the world?"
Why We DO Not Object.
There is only one reason why you
men and women. don't rise and forbid
the expectation or munitions OF war
and the supply OF money to the bell
ligerent powers. Your sympathies
are with one side In this conflict.
You believe that the balance Of crime
other and you will be no party to
action which might give to the side
you hold more to blame an advantage
over the powers you wish TO see vic
torious The United States could in
sist that no in Justice could In the
settlement he dora nation To nation
III plain words. you are afraid TO-
refuse supplies. money and munitions
10 Great Britain and the allies lest
Germany should triumph and the
spoilaaon Of Pelgiam go unavenEed."
DIR. Aked closed his address vac
ing the hone that men viii determine
not TO be made cannon food by diplo-i
mat or King and make grim resolve
TO perfect an International organiza-
ton with view OF affectiay this de-
termination when next the 'madmen
IL nigh places official gentlemen. lx-I
ing iaxafieiis lives. mostly stupid.
without IMAGINATION Or heart bid
them kin and be killed"