The Washington herald., 1915-12-09
he Ways Il Peace.
~ JOHN d. nARRY.

4 = EIcpstiu8 tOT peACc mas one great advanta&e
over preparing for war. 1t costs less. In fact !,
costs nothing at all. Preparing for war costa 50
imuch that. a. has been repeatedly pointed out
it is in itself kind of war. 1t is participation
in the rivalry among nations which, as we have
iseen in Europe. can so suddenly reach cataciysm
! Preparing for peace is supposed to be easier
than preparing for war. Such, however, is not
the fact. For. hard preparing for war is in the
way of money-getting preparing for peace re-
qures searchings OF the heart and selfcontrol and
sclf-denial that put great strain character.
There is glory in preparing for war. In pre-
pairing for peace there is no glory On the con-
trary there is the cultivation Of qualities hard to
reach, including humility, which is even more rare
among nations than it is among individuals
Suppose were to start campaign in behalf
of peace What would be .one of the first things
to be done? Well national and race prejudice
would have to be counter-acted in so far as was
possible in the schools, task Of tremendous diff
hculty. requiring in the teachers breadth of under
standing and tact When we faced this problem
perhaps it would make that, before we
could really accomplish anything. we should have
to have the teachers re-educated.
But would the training of the teachers be
enough? So often teachers strive in vain against
the evil influences of the home 1t is in the home
where the prejudiccs Of nationality and of race
thrive most abundantly. There those long past
their school days exert their subtle influence on
and by those influences cften hard to trace, as
delicate as perfume, which The young seem to alb
sorb through the atmosphere.
us into preparation for They go so far as
to say that women who do not gladly send sons
to be manned and killed and to kill and MAIN other
women's sons arc unworthy OF being citizens of
this great republic Roosevelt the other day de-
clared such women ought to be in a-harem He
was trying to justify by morality proceeding op-
posed to nature, condemned by all the considers
tons making for humanity and for civilization and
progress, releasing the vilest Of the passions and
the meanest and most corrupting of feelings, de-
veloping. moreover, huge professional class with
activities and ambitions in themselves an incentive
to war. Such preparation leads to unhealthy
tvity that distracts from the real work OF keep
ing the peace which in itself calls on our best re-
sources and encourages qualities that are produc-
tive OF good.
There is a situation in the world where
factor. 1t leads to embttering determinations
against an able and ambitious people 1t naturally
makes them feel resentful. Shall VIC feel resent
ful in return. or shall we try to get behind the
causes OF the resentment and deal with them
ageously. even if they convict OF narrow mind
edness and conceit and arrogance:
The moralists are always reminding us to keep
away from the road that leads to sin Their wis
dom has been tersely expressed in a French pro-
verb: It's the first step that counts" 1t might
De wen tor us to watch our steps and to make sure
that they are not leading in the direction of
war If they are, is it not possible that without
undue loss Of dignity pride. these steps may be
retraced? And even if VIC have to sacrifice pride
or dignity, may not the experience be worth while
in itself and warning for the futures Why should
we try to make other people pay for our mistakes?
There is another point which ought to be
studied il we TO keep the peacc-sensitiveness.
In individuals scnstvcness is made reproach. In
nations it is mark OF self-rcspcct, sign of cour
viduals and a nation the American people have
long been known for their sensitivcncss. 1t may
be good for us TO tougher up bit, to get in the
way OF applying to this childish aud boastful quail
Ity our much vauntcd national humor.
In the past many war might have been
avoided by reliance on humor particularly in those
crises where the antagonists were taking them
selves and their fears altogether too seriously
little humor infused into our patriotism would
make it less provincial and start it in tho dircc-
ton OF internationaisiu For the humorous and
the humane arc, in their essence. virtually the
same.
When two nations arc fighting it is well for
the other nations to keep out of the way. This
policy Is not as selfish IT sounds. In fact it is
not selfish at all 1t is merely the kind OF pru-
dencc that is parallelcd by the segregation Of a
burning district in CITY to keep the rest Of the
city from catching fire. Now Of all times it docs |
not behoove the american people to stand too
firmly on their rgts. to scrutinize too closely the
acts of nations in the frenzy Of international strife
d" Let the buyer beware" has long been princi-
pie of conmercial law. Another principle just as |
sound in its application to the war zonc would be
Let the intruder beware.
When this country bought the Philippines it !
deliberately placed itself in the war zone OF the |
future. 1t asked to be admitted into the organiza
tion of nations that cultivated the seeds Of dis
aster 1t looks now as if, in few years. VIC |
might have fine crop to SOW II is not too late |
for to take warning Shall we prepare for the |
war that threatens in the distance or shall we |
prepare for peace: Either way is open The mill !!
tarsts. if they had their way. would get the guns
out at once. The other way would involve no
guns whatever. 1t would give to the Filipinos |
the independence that like to consider OUR own
distinctive glory. |
A century aeo President James Monroe pro- |
mulgated doctrine known by his name. For the |
maintenance Of that doctrine it put t. country in
a bellgerent attitude and kept it there The mar
vel is that this attitude did get us into war long
ago. 1t looks now If it might get us into war
before many years are over. There arc those who |
say that if the Germans dSfeat the allies they will
next engage themselves in open challenge of
the Monroe sdoctrine Some Of these prophets |
think that we ought to be armed for the fray But