New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-14
For Peace at All Costs.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t was with great satisfaction that l
read the letter in to-day's Tribune by MISS
Clepborn. 1t seems as if since the outbreak
Of the war great multitude of the people of
this country have completely lost their
nerve" and are becoming frantic in their ad-
yocacy Of preparedness" The countries OF
Europe, including Belgium, have had pre-
paredness," and are now reaplng the fruits
thereof This country has never been ade-
ouately defended, and no country has been
freer from foreign wars Let us arm, as we
are advised, and we shall shortly have war.
The doctrine that a large army and navy are
an insurance against war is, OF course, eX-
ploded. The men who formerly were mos
emphatic in their expression Of that belief
have nimbly shifted their position, and now
tell us that we must maintain a great army
and navy, not as an insurance against war,
but to be ready for war when 1T arrives.
These men having been so utterly and wo-
fully wrong in their former assertions, dare
we give ear to their present mutations
Emerson says somewhere that the people
are always ahead Of institution. The Church,
the state society at large, move more slowly
IMAM tut lUllfluudlo AiAtAN N'+''P''"N N''~-''
Nations still fight; individuals gave 1t up
long ago. There was a time when if gen
tleman" received an atfront, there was but
one way TO wipe out the stain on his honor
fight! Gradually men with sense began 70
realize the utter stupidity Of such conduct.
They perceived that it settled no quarre.s,
but intensified them that it could not prove
who was i'm the right and that even 20 the
victor il was costly and dangerous proceed
ing Then, one by one, men arose who had
the courage to allow themselves to be called
towards rather than fight, and so duelllng
passed out. To-day the man who stoops 10
fight with pistol sword or fists is looked upon
as rutfian. We need men who have the
courage to take the same stand with regard
% our nations afairs-men VINO realize tnat
there is only one way to stop fighting, and
that is, to stop fighting; men who can see
that it is better for the ultimate destiny OF
our country and of the human race that we
refuse to fgh. better that we should lose a
little prestige, a little territory perhaps. a
little trade rather than engage IN the slaugh-
ter Of the men of other na,ions and the sac
rhce of our own.
Let US bring up our children in the belief
that there is no modification or qualification
Of the commandment Thou shalt not kill"
Let US teach them that there can be no justl-
fcation whatever OF the wilful killing OF
human being. Let US keep before them the
words of our President: There is such a
thing as being too proud to fight" Let US, in
other words, bring them up in the teachings
Of Jesus-not the theological dogmas Of the
Church, for they fortunately, are fast de
caying, have already decayed but in the sim
pie teachings that came directly from the lips
Of the Man Of Nazareth, and which in modern
times have been bravely repeated BY men like
Tolstoy. the teachings which are summed up
in the words Love thy neghbor as myself"
And finally, let US keep before them land
u.s. the truth that Jesus was believer in
and preacher Of peace at any price-at
ANY price. JOHN MEDFORD.
ISIS Prospect Place, Brooklyn, Aug. 2, 1915