The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-19

to negotiate peace.
Are not these dying men and these
Borrowing women entitled to know
definitely for what their nation Is
fighting? Is 1t territory? Then how
much territory and where is 1t To-
Gated? Is It the avenging of wrong
done? Then how much more blood
must be spilled to make atonement
for the blood already shed? Some
day accumulated suffering will reach
its limit; some day the pent-up an
guish which this war Is causing will
find q voice. Then, If not before, the
rulers in the war zone will pause to
listen to the stern question, Why do
we die?' the question which shakes
thrones and marks the farthermost
limits of arbitrary power.
Must Ncutrals Bear Penalties?
"And ia not the outside world en-
titled to know the price of peace?
Must the neutrals bear the penalties
which war necessarily visits upon them
and yet remain in ignorance as to
the issues at stake? Their trade Is
interrupted, their citizens are drown
ed, they are the victims of stray bull
iets~-have they no right to know what
it is that. being done. will draw down
the curtain on this dark tragedy? Has
any nation a purpose for continuing
this war which 1t does not dare to
state to the world. or even to it's own
people?
Surely neither side thinks it can
annihilate the other. Great nations
cannot be exterminhted--pdpula
cannot be wiped out by the sword.
The combatants, even though the war
may have made them heartless, will
| shrink from the task of carrying this
I ~ -I-&. - cru
to win a victory. And 1t must be re-
membered that war plans often mis-
carry. Predictions made at the be-
ginning of the war nave not been full
| filled. The British did not destroy the
German feet in a month and Germany
did not take Paris in two months and
I the Russian army did not eat Christ
mas dinner in Berlin.
But even If determination were
| possible, 1t would be a crime against
civilization which no nation or group
OF nations could afford to commit. If
/ 1t is vandalism to destroy the finest
specimens of mans workmanship, is
II not sacrilege to engage In the
wholesale destruction of human be-
/ ings-the supreme example of Gods
/ handiwork? We may find cases of
seeming total depravity among indi-
=, viduals, not in a nation or in race.
the future has use for the peo-
pies now at war; they have a neces-
sary part in that destiny which man
kind must work out together, regard
less of these ehullitions of anger. The
Lord might have made all flowers OF
one kind. OF one color, and alike in
| fragrance, but he did not And be-
cause he did not the world is more
beautiful. Variety, not uniformity. Is
the law among men as well as among
| the flowers. The nations whcKn are
actively participating in this war are
what they are because of struggles
that have lasted for centuries. They
differ in language. In institutions, in
race characteristics and in national
history. but together they constitute
a great living bouquet that liz of sur
passing beauty.
I'VE may put aside. therefore. as
wholly impracticable, II not incon-
ceivabIe, the thought that this war
sa4ssalated the Others What Then. can
be the purpose? The complete domi-
nation OF Europe by one nation or
group of nations? The absurdity of
such a plan Is only second to the
absurdity of the thought that either
side can annFnilate the other. The
world is not looking for a master;
the day of the despot Is gone. The
future will be gloomy indeed II the
smaller nations must pass under the
yoke OF any power or combination
of powers. The question Is not, Who
shall dictate on land?' or, Who shall
dominate upon the sea? These aues-
tons are not practical ones. The
real question is, not how few can
lay burdens upon the rest, but now
all can work together as comrades
and brothers.
What Nations Cannot Afford.
Even IL IL were possible for one
side to force the other side to it's
knees in supplication--even IL 1t were
possible for one side to write the terms
of the treaty in blood and compel the
other side to sign It, face downward
and PROSTATE on the ground--it could
not afford to do so; and unless the
belligerents have read history to no
purpose, they will not desire to do so.
Time and again some natien. boast
full of its strength. has thought itself
tnyinclbie, but the ruin OF these mis-
taken and misguided nations line the
pathway along which the masses have
marched to higher ground. Despotism
has in 1t the seeds Of death; the spirit
That leads nation to aspire to SUI
premacy based on force Is the spirit
tudt destroys IT'S nope OF immortality.
Only those who are unacquainted with
the larger influence can place their
sole reliance on the weapons used in
physical warfare. They see only the
things that are transient and epheme
raj; they do not comprehend rae
higher. truth that the things that are
seen are temporal: the things that
are unseen are eternal, .5s,-....saa
Christian nations need to read
again Christ's prayer upon the cross:
Father. forgive them. for they know
not what they do. All the particle
pants I'm this war have sinned enough
to make them anxious to exhibit that
forgiving spirit which is the measure
Of the forgiveness which can be
claimed.
When can peace be restored? Any
time-now, II the participants are
really weary OF this war and ready
for It to end. II any nation is not
ready. let It's ruler state In clear, dis
tinct and definite terms the conditions
upon which IL Is willing to agree To-
| peace then II An agreement IL NOT
l reached. fhe blame for the eontis,u-4
ance Of the war win be upon those