New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-17
When the Pacihsts Fail.

To that busy, if numerically insignifi-
cant. band Of American pacifsts at pres
ent busily engaged in restoring peace IN
Europe, and particularly TO the present
owner Of "The Evening Post" and The
Nation" we submit the following docu-
ment:
The great reason why the more earnest
enemies Of war have not made more progress
toward doing away with il has been that
from the very outset of their labors down
10 the present moment they have devoted
themselves mainly 10 depicting its horrors
and 70 donouncing its cruelty. In other
words. they almost invariably approach II
from a side with which nations actually en-
gagged In il are Just as familiar as anybody,
but which has for the moment assumed IN
their eyes a secondary importance. Inc
peace advocates are constantly talking OF the
plilt Of killing. while the combatants only
think Of the nobleness of dying To the
peace advocates the soldier is always man
going 10 slaughter his neighbors; to his coun-
trymen he is a man going 70 lose ms lie
for their sakc-that is, 10 perform the lolt-
lest act OF devotion of which human being
is capable. II is not wonderful, then, that
the usual effect OF appeals for peace made
by neutras is 10 produce mingled exaspera-
ton and amusement among the bellgerents.
To the great majority of Europeans our Civil
War was a shocking spectacle, and the per
sistence Of the North in carrying it on a sad
proof Of ferocity and lust Of dominion. To
the great majority Of those engaged in carry
ing II on the struggle was holy one, in
which Il was a blessing TO perish. Probably
nothing ever fell more cruelty on human ears
than the taunts and excavations which Amer-
can wives and mothers heard from the other
side Of the ocean, heaped on the husbands
and sons whom they had sent 70 the battle
field. never thinking at all Of their staying,
but thinking solely Of their being slain, and
very glad indeed that, If death had to come,
il should come in such a cause. II we go
either TO France or Germany to-day we shall
find q precisely similar state Of feeling. II
the accounts we hear be true-and we know
Of no reason 10 doubt them-there is no more
question IN the German and French mind
that French and German soldiers are doing
their highest duty in fighting than there was
in the most patriotic Northern or Southern
home during our war; and we may guess,
therefore, how German or French mother,
the light Of whose life had gone out at
Gravelotte or Orleans, and who hugs her sor-
]
dress from New York on the general wicked
ness and folly Of her sacrifice.
The fact is and it is one Of the most sug-
cestive facts we know Of that the very
growth Of the public conscience has helped
10 make peace somewhat more difficult, war
vastly more terrible. When war was the
game Of kings and soldiers the nations went
into 10 IN a half-hearted way and sincerely
loathed IL; now that war is literally an out
burst Of popular feeling the friend Of peace
finds most Of its logic powerless. There is
little use Of reasoning with man who is
ready 20 die on the folly or wckedness Of
dying When a nation has worked itself up
10 the point Of believing that there are OBJ
jects within its reach for which life were
well surrendered, IL has reached region in
which the wise saws and modern instances Of
the philosopher or lawyer cannot touch il,
and in which pictures Of the misery Of war
only help TO make the martyrs crown seem
more glorious.
This document is taken from the COM
ment Of the late +. l.. Godkin, once editor
of THE Nation" II was written at the time
of the Franco-Prussian War, but it is
difficult 10 see how it could be improved
upon as a statement of the existing situa-
ton.
There are only two classes of Ameri-
cans who can desire to see the European
conflict ended in the present situation.
One is made up Of those who actively
champion the German cause. The other
is made up Of those who believe that war
; is the worst conceivable i'll, and that
nothing that peace can bring of slavery
or dishonor compares with the evils of
: strife.
With those who hold either one Of these
p views it is idle to argue. But for the rest
Of the American public there is world
Of value in Godkin's comparison Of the
earlier European conflict with our own
Civil War Peace at any time between
81 Sumter and Appomattox meant the sue
cess Of secession. Peace in Europe today
B. means the success. not alone in Europe.
but in the world, of German ideas and
German ideals
Those who would like to see this thing
accomplished DO well to advocate peace.
But for the rest of the American people.
whose traditions are of the American
Revolution and Of the Civil War. il is not
the time to contribute. even by foolish
words. 20 the success which would mean
the negatlon Of all that liberty and Amer