The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-10-05

one, that We have the men with whom
to form an army of defense if we are
ever attacked; and it is known also
that we have the money, too-more
money than we would have had if all
the surplus earnings of the people had
been invested in armament. We not
only do not need additional prepare
ton, but we are fortunate in not hav-
ing 1t, since 1t seems impossible for
nation to have what is called prepar-
edness without having along with it
a disposition to use the 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 had been as well prepared
as they.
Happy for our nation that we have
in the White House at this time a
President who believes in setting the
old world good example, instead of
following the bad example which it
sets in this matter! What an unspeak-
able misfortune it would have been if,
in such an hour as this, the nation had
been under the leadership of Pres
ident inflamed by the false philosophy
which has plunged Europe into the
abyss of war!
Way to End HostiIities.
Having considered the war as it is
and the injury which 1t does neutrals,
and then the origin of the war and the
causes which led up to it, we are now
ready to make inquiry as to the way
out, that is, the means by which hos
tilities can be brought to an end and
permanent peace restored To state
in sentence the propositions which l
shall proceed to elaborate: Mediation
is the means, provided by information
al agreement through which the bel
ligerent nations can be brought into
conference; time for the investigation
of all disputes is the means by which
ways can be averted and the cultiva-
ton of international friendship is the
means by which the desire for war can
be rooted out.
"What are the nations fighting
about? No one seems to know; or if
anyone does know, he has not taken
the public into his confidence. We have |
been told in a general way, that the |
Allies are fighting against 'militarism'
and in defense Of popular govern |
ment,' and that Germany is fighting
in defense of German culture and for
the nations right to a place in the !
sum- But these generalities are so
differently interpreted as not to con-
vey a definite idea. When the Presi- |
dent offered mediation at the very be- |
ginning of the struggle, the answers
which he received from the various
rulers were so much alike that one
telegram might have served for all. |
The substance Of each answer was, Il |
did not want war, and | am not to
blame for the war that now exists
But that was ten months ago. The |
question now is not whether those in |
authority in the belligerent nations
did or did not want war then; we may
accept their answers as given in good |
faith, but the important question is
still unanswered. 4 did not want war
may have been deemed sufficient at
the time the answers were given, but
the real question is, do you want war
now? If not, why not say SO? The
months have dragged their bloody
length along-each more terrible than
the month beforehand yet the GRIM
son line of battle always to and fro, /,
each movement marked by dreadful
loss OF life. While warriors die and !
widows weep the sovereign rulers of
the warning powers withhold the word
that would stop the war. No chief of
state has yet said, L do not want war.
No one in authority has yet publicly
declared his willingness to state the
terms upon which his nation is ready
to negotiate peace. Are not these
dying men and these sorrowing wom-
en- entitled to know definitely for what
their nation is fighting? Is it terri
tory? Then how much territory and
where is it located? Is 1t the aveng-
ing of a wrong done? Then how
much more blood must be spilled to
make atonemont for the bleed already !
shed? Some day accumulated suffer
ing will overflow; some day the pent- /
up anguish which this war is causing r
will find voice. Then, If not before.
The rulers in the war zone will pause
10 listen to the stern question, Why
10 we die?-the question which shakes
thrones and marks the farthermost |
limits of arbitrary power.