The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-06-26
What Is a Pacifst I?
~ Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Cranel

A real pacifist is man who believes
that war Is not only horrible but UNI
necessary unintelligent, and avoidable.
He is not so much concerned in stop
ping a particular war: he believes in re-
moving the conditions that cause war.
He is more anxious to render the world
structure fireproof than to put out this
or that confagration.
He is not an impractical dreamer; he
is radically practical. He sees the cause
of war to be the lack of federation, and
he is exerting all his strength to induce
the nations to enter into federation.
1t is the believers in huge ornaments
that are impractical dreamers, as his
tory shows these never did prevent war,
and reason shows us they never will.
The pacifist believes in the nations liv-
ing together under law. and not in an
archy. as they now live.
Peace is not a mere cessation OF nght-
ing: il is organized cooperation OF ma
tons under law.
The pacifst is an internationalist. We
now have international commerce.
credit science, economics, hygiene, and
the like: the world is rapidly learning
how to act in harmony; the pacifist Is
for applying internationalism to govern
ments in some way that shall settle dis
putes among nations by law and right,
and not by brute force.
The pacifist does not advocate the sub
sttution of timidity for courage; but
the substitution Of civilization, its pro-
cesses and its forces, for barbarism and
anarchy.
The pacifist does not agitate for dis
armament at this time. This would
amount to attempting to heal disease
| BY removing it's consequences. He be-
| lieves in removing the cause. National
ornaments are simply the result OF the
present Reorganization and lack OF law.
Once the nations are organized they will
need no ornaments.
The pacifist does not imagine we can
ever do away with the need Of force. But
he is for the regulated force OF an or
ganized world, and against the use OF
force by powers acknowledging no law
but their own will.
The pacifist's internationalism Is not
anti-nationalism He believes every ma
ton should he allowed to work out its
own destiny in its own way. Only there
should be some international tribunal
and police to prevent illegal oppression
or aggression.
The pacifist believes in struggle evolu-
ton, and the survival Of the fittest.
Only the struggle of men against men 10
destructive. II is in the struggle Of men
cooperating against the destructive
forces of nature that is rational. War
does not mean progress. but the reverse.
Only by organization for mutual assist
ance does the race progress.
The pacifist believes that war is the
mistake cf governments. 1t is not the
will of the people. The will of the peo-
pie is never ruin and death. 1t is inn
provement. health, wealth, and life un-
der intelligent law. This can only be Sc
cured by organizing the world.
The pacifst believes the only work.
able unit for universal prosperity is hui
manity. So long as we live under num-
Der Of equally supreme national units we
shall have confusion and loss.
The pacifist does not insist on the de-
tails Of this or that plan. He is for the
earnest effort to promote any plan which
may eventuate in bringing world order
out Of world chaos.
The pacifist believes that, instead of
pacifsm being discredited by the pres
ent war. the need of it is intensified.
Now is the time to agitate for world or
ganizaticn, the only imaginable method
to prevent war.