The Washington herald., 1915-12-08
The Possibilities of War
By JOHN ID, BARRY.

H.
Robert Hcrricks article in the New Republic,
entitled "Recantation Of a Pachst," contains many
of those high-sounding phrases that VIC are hear
ing so often in justification Of war. 1t emphasizes
the necessity of a prcseht sacrifice for better
future" But how do we know that the sacrihce
of this war or of any other will lead to a bet
ter futures There are plenty of for think
ing that it may lead to future much worse than
the present. nations burdened with debt, tor
mented with hate, bowed down with grief. living
in an atmosphere that must lead to vast number
of unhealthy reactions.
Sacrifice may be, indeed. fine thing There
is not nearly enough OF it on the part OF some
people either in war time in time Of what we
call peace. If it were fairly distributed and made
for an.inspring cause it would do US all good But
the sacrifice involved in is grossly unjust.
Like most sacrifice in life, it falls heaviest on the
poor.
1t is very fascinating this talk Of "a present
sacrifice for a better future" But it represents
the hazcst kind Of thinking or no thinking at ALL
Whatever may be wars outcome. is there any
reason for the belief that the world will be bet
ter world, that it will be nearer realization OF
the ideals of social justice? The chances arc that
it will not 1t will be too absorbed in those prac-
teal affairs associated with business recovery. The
great mass Of workers. instead of being better of
than before, will be worse of. Many will be
physically crippled Many others will be crippled
mentally or morally or both. unable to settle
down to the hard Of routine after the feverish
excitements and the stimulating companionship OF
war.
mo man-and no nation-is worthy of life who
is not ready to lay it down at necessity, says Mr.
Hcrrck. Let examine this impressive senti-
mcnt 1t amounts to this statement: mo man
and no nation-is worthy of life who is not ready
to lay it down when it ought to be laid down.
The words convey a cheap truism, ono OF those
Significance. 1t is based on the assumption that
there times when man and a nation ought
to be ready to take the chance OF being destroyed
for the sake of principle. But what g9od IS i ae.
destruction goes on. the principle stands quietly
at one side. -.
at is only the weakling who finds nothing
worth fighting about" says Mr.. Herrick. Incl
dentally reminding us that through his faith IN
prowess he is fellow of some prowcss himself.
Let us see if we can find out what the words mean
worth fighting. about. you are weaklng. The
worth OF a thing then, is measured by fighting.
But what in the world has fighting got to do with
the worth Of thing? Humanity. consideration for
human life, the feeling that inspires such consider
alton, all agree, is something to be priced,
something worth while Without it VIC could not
have civilized and humane society Shall We
IL we don't we arc weaklings. In other words, we
shall show our humanity, we shall give evidence Of
the feeling that inspires it, by abandoning our
selves to inhuman feeling. that makes those We
attack inhuman. too
Mr. Herricks statement, applied to the present
war amounts to this kind Of reasoning: II. you
belong to one Of tho fighting nations. it you don't
care enough for the principle Of your side to 70
out and risk your own life, and, incidentally. 10
slaughter other men who have principle Of thcir
own which they believe in as strongly as you do,
you are weakling
Always in talk of this kind the assumption is
that the weakng is moved only by considerations
directly affecting himself. But those who consider
war utterly wasteful and ntolerable arc just as
much moved by their repugnancc to injurng
others, if not very much more moved. There are
many pacifsts who would give
their lives if they could for the sake Of stopping
this war. sIf there is any cowardiee in the talk
that goes on about war, It is net to be found
among those who accept war, as possible neces-
sity For war, it should be remembered, is filled
to the brim with cowardice. 1t is Of the most
degrading kinds Of competition, comparable in
fairness and cruelty only with the industrial
that goes on in time Of peace, that goes on in fact
all the time "a fair field and favors" doesn't APP
DIV to modern war methods There is no basencys
too base for the warriors no meanness too mean.
1t l. this kind Of game that the advocates Of
realize the nature OF the dctestablc business And
let inquire whether there may not be some other
way of being prepared way that shall not invite
the chances of war and that shall establish the
safeguards Of peace