The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-23
SAYS WAR IS WRONG
Staying OF NATION WORSE
THAN SIMPLE MURDER
BRYAN EXPLAINS CAUSE
Ex-Secretary Says Present War is the
"Causeless War; and Shows That
Each Ruler Declared He Wanted
no War-Preparedness Brought
Convulsion in Europe, He Argues.

no War-Preparedness Brought
Convulsion in Europe, He Argues
William Jennings Bryan's promis'
ed second installment of his Cause
less War" essay was issued Tuesday
After denouncing the strife raging
in Europe and declaring that all wars
are waged for selfish ends, he directs
pointed shafts at those who adyo-
cate preparedness as the best In
surance for peace. He also praises
President Wilson's efforts for peace
The statement follows:
"The conflict now raging in Eu-
rope has been described as the cause
less war; but since no could be
bold emo Ugh to lay the blame for
such an unholy situation upon an
overruling Providence, it must find
it's origin in acts for which man, and
man alone. is responsible.
''It is not a race war: on the con-
trary, the racers are quite inexpli-
cably mixed. Latin joins with Saxon;
the Frank is the ally of the Slay;
while in the opposing ranks, Teuton
and Turk fight side by side.
'Neither is it a religious war. On
the Bosporus the Cross and the
Crescent make common cause, Pro-
testant kaiser and Catholic emperor
have linked their fortunes together
and hurl their veteran legions against
an army in which are indiscriminate-
ly mingled communicates OF the
Greek Church, of the Church of Rome
and Of the Church Of England.
'Yor yet is it a rivalry between
families. The leading actors in this
unprecedented tragedy are related by
blood, but kinship seems to be a neg
ligibIe factor-it explains neither
friendship nor enmities. No race, re-
ligion or family, each with many
wars to answer for, can plead not
guilty in the present inquiry. So
far as can be judged, there appears
upon the surface no cause that by
any known standard can be regard
ed as adequate for such cataclysm
as we are' now witnessing.
1.-The notes that passed from chan
celery to chancellery were couched
in most friendly language. Those
notes could not have been intended
to deceive. Sovereigns visited each
other and were received with every
evidence of cordiality and good will.
This hospitality could not have been
insincere.
''Each ruler declared that he did
not want war. Would they all say
this if an adequate cause for war had
actually existed? They have all de-
MED responsibility for the war.
Would they have done 60 if they had
regarded the war as either necessary
or desirable?
1T is inconceivable. It would be
gross libel On them-one and all
to charge such wanton disregard
of their sacred duty.
What, then, was the cause? II
l have correctly analyzed the situa-
ton, the war is . natural result of
false philosophy. Theories Of life
are invisible, but they control for
good or for evil They enter our
very being, and may be as deadly to
the moral man as germs of disease,
taken into the body. are deadly to
the physical man. The fundamental
principle of this philosophy is that
might makes right.
Conquest is the word used to de-
scribe the means employed for secur-
ing the thing desired, If the force is
employed by a nation, end conquest
violates the commandmcnts-thou
shalt not steal and thou shalt not
kill.
.'By what sophistry can rulers con-
vince themselves that, while petit
larceny is criminal, grand larceny is
patriotic; that, while it is reprehen-
sible for one man to kill another for
his money. it is glorious for one ma
ton to put to the sword the inhabi-
tants of another nation in order to
extend boundaries?
'It is a mockery of moral distinc-
tions to hang one man for taking
the life of another, either for money
or in revenge, and then make hero
of another man who wades through
slaughter to a throne and shuts the
doors of mercy on mankind
LAS in the case of the individual,
the violation of the commandments
Thou shalt not covet,' Thou shalt
not steal and Thou shalt not kill
are usually traceable to the viola
ton of the first and great command
ment, Thou shalt have no other gods
before Me'-that is, to the putting
of self before service of the Creator.
THE violation Of the command
me1ts by nations is not always, but
usually, due to seHishness-the put
ting OF supposed material advantages
before obedience to the divine law.
"War is occasionally altruistic in
purpose, and the soldier always eX-
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