The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-23
SAYS WAR IS WRONG
(Continued from page one.)


but, as a rule, conflicts are waged
for selfish ends.
III have made it clear that the
doctrine that might makes right IS
the most common cause OF war, we
may pass to the consideration of a
maxim quite sure to be applied in
war, namely, that like cures like,
the theory upon which retaliation
rests.
The two are so closely allied that
it is almost inevitable that those who
indorse the former will resort to the
latter-one represents the spirit OF
evil, the other it's most familiar mani
festation. Retaliation is rivalry in
wrongdoing-a neck and neck race
toward the bottomless pit. And yet
there are many believers in the gos-
pei of force who have brought them
selves to think that cruelty could be
cured by greater cruelty-that the
only way to win an antagonist away
from inhuman acts is to surpass him
in inhumanities. Absurdity of ab-
surditieS.
But might must, find Dretext
for arming itself, and what is the
preteXt? There was time when
men openly advocated war as thing
to be desired; commended it to each
generation as sort of tonic to tone
up the moral system and prevent de-
generacy, but we have passed that
day. Now all join in the chorus for
peace. And how, according to the
iingoes, shall peace be insured?
by preparedness say these sons
of Mars. Prepare all, prepare and
equip yourselves with the most mod
ern implements of destruction; arm,
drill, get ready and then stand with
finger on hair trigger musket and
preserve peace-yes, preserve it until
some one, by accident or design,
gives the signal. Then fall upon
each other with cries fo- blood. Pre-
paredness is the kindling, opportunl-
ty is the match.
eve dare not trust the peace OF
the world to those who spend their
time in getting ready for wars which
should never come. Half the energy
employed in preparing for war would
efectually prevent war if used IN
propagating the principles which
make for peace.
Instead of , ,rerenting war, pre-
?aredneSs provokes war, because 1t
is impossible to coerce the people
into bearing the burdens incident to
increasing and continuous prepara-
ton without cultivating hatred as If
it were national virtue. There
must be some one to fear; some 9TH
er preparing nation that must be
represented as plotting for war.
Hate sets up sham standards OF
honor and converts every wound into
fostering sore; hate nlsunder-
stands; hate misinterprets; hate ma
ligns its supposed adversary, while
every contractor, every battleshlp
builder and manufacturer of muni-
tions Of war applauds.
How can preparedness prevent
war if ali prepare? Each step taken
by one nation toward more complete
preparedness eXcites the other ma
tions to additional purchases and new
levies until all have exhausted their
productive industries and menaced
their moral progress.
eThe doctrine that preparedness
will prevent war, will not stand the
test of logic, and the conflagration
in Europe shows that it fails when
tested by experience.
IF any nation is without excuse
for entering into mad rivalry with
the belligerent nations in prepara-
ton for war, it is the United States.
We are protected on each -ide by
thousands of miles Of ocean and this
possession is worth more to us than
any number of battleships. We have
an additional protection in the fact,
known to every one, that we have the
men with whom to form an army OF
defense if we are ever attacked and
it is also known that We have the
money, too, more money than we
ever would have had if all the sur
plus earnings of the people had been
invested in armament. We not only
do not need; additional preparation,
but we are fortunate in not having it
since it seems impossible for a nation
TO have what is called preparedness
without having along with it dis
position to use its preparedness on
the slightest provocation.
The leading participants in the
present war are the nations that were
best prepared, and fear it would
have been difficult for US to keep out
of this war if we he'd been as well
prepared as they.
Happy for our nation that we
have at this time a president who be-
lieves in setting the whole world a
good example, instead of following
the bad example which it sets in this
matter. What an unspeakable mis-
fortune it would have been if. in
such an hour as this, this nation had
been under the leadership Of presl-
dent infl2med by the false philosophy
which has plunged Europe into the
abyss of war
Japan THREATENS CHINA