Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-19
TOO MUCH WAR TALK.
By John B. Polk.


II is evident that the minds of the
people dwell too much M the subject
of war Just now. That the trend Of
thought lies very much in that diree'
ton is evidenced by the talk one hears
on the street corners, in places of busi'
ness, ON the cars, and everywhere one
goes. War is an awful thing, its awful
ness is beyond the human mind to con
ceivc. The little rain drop that fails
on the mountain side is joined by other
little drops, and still others forms a
small rivulet that trickles down the
slope joining others until a brook IS
created; further down many brooks
join, forming river. The river over.
flows its banks and becomes raging
torrent, sweeping everything before it,
destroying whblc communities, cities,
and everything that happens to be in
its way So it is with war 1t can be
traced all the way from the little small
talk heard on every hand, down to the
great torrent of blood that sweeps
everything before it converting a
peaceabIe community into a seething
bcsom of destruction. 1t is said of
war that it is "Ilell in operation. "
/ War is effect not a cause. War is the
1 destructive forces set in motion for
the purpose Of cleansing the moral
atmosphere. But like the flood it
gulls the land, maines and cripples
everything in its wake.
There are two great forces extent
in the universe, each operating in op.
positc directions. One Of these forces
is constructive, the other destructive,
Every thought that eminates from the
mind, every deed every act must
harmoni2c with one or the other Of
these great forces, 1t is poor policy
to talk peace on Sunday, and war the
balance of the week. 1t is indeed
painful to see so many christians do
ing this thing. Even taking sides in
the great struggle, It is all right to
take sides provided you take the side
of oeace against militaryism. Whicl
! side are YOU onl Both sides are ask
ing God to help destroy the enemy
both prayers are being answered, Yor
cannot control the great flood Of
death, but You can control the littl,
| thoughts that drop into your mind
. You have the power to make you
G thoughts constructive by turning then
| in the direction Of the good In Tn,
study Of mental Olchamy we find tn,
way to rid one 3 self Of obiectionabl,
thoughts, is to cultivate thoughts o
[ an opposite quality until they ex
ternalizc on the objective plane.
U was surprised that our goyemo
would suggest that our little boys b,
, trained to use fire arms. Only thml
u what that Means coming from an eX
q ecutive too The "Dick military hilp
that was slipped through congress
:, makes soldiers Of all our boys owe
sixteen and under rorty.fiye. II i
y not enough that our fathers, brothers
( and husbands be forced to take par
G in the slaughter Of war, but the nurscr,
, must he invaded, aud the little boys
" Of whom Jesus said "Of such is tn
kingdom of heaven, must also b.
n organized into great army of "BO,
Scouts and trained in the use Of fire
o arms. "llo that taketh up the swor,
r shall die by the sword,' and when WI
. undertake to invade the very precinct
d of the kingdom Of heaven, taking littl
children that are yet pure, aud trail
them and drill them in this "hellish
Il business, we are carrying the matter
f little too far according to my view o
l. the matter 1t is dangerous ground
n Only think how It would lool, to see
, thousand Of our little boys marchn
" down the streets with guns, and the cit
4 lull of churches teaching "peacc o
i, earth good win to men," "Tho
shalt not hilll no KIN is TO murdr
d aud ga murder hath NOT eternal life.
! Surely the distance back to the iungl
is q surprisingly short one. Civilgc
and christiouilcd nations do not 70 {
war The same can be- said Of iudiyid
uals "Ihoosc yo this day whom v
n will serve but remember that GAS v
sow SO shall We reap" There is entir,
lN too much "sowiug TO the wind ius
now for our good It win be folloWc
- ny the whirlwmd later on fca
Which side are YOU oul