Semi-weekly herald., 1915-11-02
SHELDON ON PREPAREDNESS.

1
ter to Woodrow Wilson, written by
Chas NJ. Sheldon, author of ''In His
Steps. or What Would Jesus Do ?" re-
earding the presidential plan of turn
ing the u S. over to militarism. Mr..
Sheldon is well known thruout the
world and there is no questioning his
Knowledge of what the people are
standing for in this connection. Our
readers may not all agree with Mr..
Sheldon's arguments but there are
hundreds of thousands thruout the
country who will. 1t will pay to read
what Mr.. Sheldon has to say, being
a.; follows:
President Woodrow Wilson,
Washington, d. C.
Mr.. President: In your speech in
New York you are reported as saying:
"lf men differ with me in this vital
matter, | shall ask them to make it
clear how far and in what way they
are interested in making the psrman-
ent interests of the country safe
against disturbance
am one of those who differ from
you very positively on your program
OF war preparation, and believe the
men of the west generally differ with
you. You say, No thoughtful man
feels any panic haste in this mat
ter. The country is not threatened
atAtr a,.tn k4 sNa avSIa -.
friendly relation with all the world"
Ii that is true. why all this military
Program for an enemy we do not
possess In the entire course of your
speech you do not mention ono single
reason for an increased army and
navy. You do not name one nation
in the world that has any design to
threaten or invade this country.
Mr.. President, have lived in the
west over 27 years, and within the last
year have been in every western state,
and faced over one million and half
of people, and your program of mil
itarism will meet with earnest and in
telligent opposition from this part of
the country. Much as | would wish,
as a citizen who loves his country, to
stand by the president in matters of
vital concern. l for one cannot and
viii not uphold you and your advisers
in this matter.
Mr.. President. you advise men who
differ with you ''to make it clear how
far and in what way they are interest
&c in making permanent interests of
the country safe from disturbance"
If the money you and your advisers
declare is necessary for military prep
aration against an enemy you do not
name, We're to be used in the education
of the people and the Christianixing
of the world. Ii we took a small
part of the peoples money which your
program will take from the people to
buy powder and put it into com
paign for national prohibition of the
liquor traffic, We could prepare our
country for Christian program of
conquest over other passions.
If we took the price of one battle
ship and put it in to building good
roads in one of our states, we could
prepare our people for a happier and
cleaner and saner life.
If we took a small part of the i'm
mense sums your program calls for in
the enrichment of munition factories,
and spent it in Outstanding Europe
after the great war is over, we could
oDce and forever remove even the
needless fear of war which exists in
this country.
Mr.. President, the program you
propose to the people of the country
to strengthen the military power of
tic republic is contrary to the spirit
OF Christianity. What would Jeses
do? Can we imagine Him at this
crisis in the worlds history calling
on a nation to spend vast sums pre-
pairing itself for war by creating a
great army and navy? 1t is not think
able. We know what He would do.
He would call on the people of this
country TO give at least a dollar
apiece to preach and practice the gos-
pei of justice and brotherhood here at
home and to take what battleships we
have and load them with the best Of
our sons and daughters and send them
around the world to evangelize the
nation that will be ready for it as
never before, and put an end to war by
teaching and practicing the principles
OF the Prince of Peace.
Over against your program, we who
differ with you place this program
of preparedness. 1t is more practical
than yours. 1t is the only program
which will in the end bring about the
brotherhood of man.
With voice and pen and all the in