TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-01-12

from looking into the future should
prevail.
HATRED A SPIRITUAL MISFORTUNE
But the relations have also been dis
turbed in another direction. have
always wondered why the people in
these states should take sides at all.
All thinking men, to my mind, should
try to prevent this. The United States
IL country of many nations. 1t has
very large population Of English de-
scent. II has larger population of
German and Of Irish descent. II has
tried successfully to obliterate national
lines and transform all eomers who
make the United States their perma.
nent home into its own citizens. Amer.
leans fret, last and all the time. But
II the leaders OF the nation, especially
shese WHO are teachers Of the coming
generations, the professors, the authors
and the journalists, do not see their
way TO keep neutral toward the
various factions at war II must Of ne
cessity occur that the peace Of this
community will be disturbed, that the
various component parts viii remem.
Der their old affiliations. that blood
win assert itself, that frictions will
arise and that political strife will be-
come more acrimonious, and surely
this cannot serve for the good Of this
country.
This is, after all, matter that
should concern America alone, so
viii not enlarge on 1t.
But the split among the people has
also touched on the spiritual relations.
German professors and scientists who
have tried TO defend their country are
beng ridicnled by their brethren on
this side. Lifelong friendships have
broken up. The interchange Of sci
entific attainments and invention is
checked. Hatred has been engendercd.
and We have the woeful spectacle that
the men who should stand for the ad
vaneement OF science. the men o} inde
pendent research. the s-archers OF
truth. the keepers Of the holy fire,
have taken sides and added 10 the gen
erai III feeling.
From my point Of view can only
deeply deplore II. ! cannot recognize
the necessity nor the occasion for such
actions. think that il should be The
noble duty Of the scientific world To
stand above the happenings OF daily
lie, that II should preserve and
strengthen the ties that have brought
so much ideal good 10 the world; that
Il should seek and disseminate the
eternal truth; that IL should Try to nn.
derstand human nature and make IL
understood, not that II should pass a
wholesale Judgment on ls000o0o0 Of
people who have contributed To the
good of the world at least az much as
have their present adyersaries. II this
necessity does not dawn upon the sci
ontific community the dislocation OF
thought and scientific relations may
prove even q more serious thing for
the future, and il viii take perhaps a
generation 10 heal the wounds un-
necessarily inflicted.
RELIGION ENDANGERED BY WAR.
And let me now shortly turn 10 q
third matter which perhaps less than
To others belongs 10 things usually dis
enssed in this circle.
One Of the saddest aspects OF the
present situation is the deep gulf felt
by all thinking men between the acts
OF violence and destruction and the re-
ligious ereeds that every one profess
es. There is deep feeling, Of unrest
among all religious people. gentle and
dew alike. II seems 10 them that the
teachings they received have not OBJ
tanned that hold on the soul necessary
TO put these teachings into acts when
the emergency arises. This unrest Il
all over the world. II Is aecentuated
in this country by congregations split
ting up, by political preachings from
the pulpit and by taking sides in places
where the universal brotherhood OF
man should be the one and only text.
The sequel, according 20 history, will
he the weakening OF the organizations.
There viii spring up either religious
indifference or wild sectarianism with
political tendencies, all Of which cannot
be in the interest Of any country what
soever. II the European war is not
considered as passing event, as an
explosion after an enormous pressure,
il may come to pass that the gu.
preme teaching on which alone the hope
OF permanent and lasting peace, Of a
better and holier world, can be based.
that OF the universal brotherhood Of
man, that modest and humble feeling
toward the transeeHdental. win be most
disturbed and one Of the
fundamental pillars destroyed, upon
which had sincerely trusted We
would build up the shattered world
again.
WHAT rs THE WAR ABOUT
In view Of this grave situation, of