The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-09
Bv FLORENCE WILLARD DAY.

! The competitive spirit. believed in
and exercised in the affairs of men. is
the fundamental cause of all the trou-
BILE and conflict through which man
| Kind has suffered, from the days of
Cain and Abel down to the present time.
| We have been taught constantly
that competition is the life of trade
and that business success is depend
ent upon it. and so. acting upon this
superstition. each one who enters into
the business world. in any capacity
whatever, is governed by this idea in
his relations TO and dealings with his
so-called competitors: those unfortu-
lnate beings who have the temerity to
enter into the same line of business
with himself Naturally. this attitude
OF mind. based upon such a premise.
causes each competitor to strive TO
Guido his neighbor and to get the bet
ter of him in every way possible that
will work to his own advantage and to
the disadvantage of his neighbor. So.
through this spirit and course of ac-
ton, greed. jealousy. fear and hatred
lare enEendered. which will lead to
Observation-Disclosures and misrepresenta-
lions Of one another to the degree that
one will yield to those false states of
mind and emotions and allow his
higher nature to be subjugated and
dominated by them.
The more undeveloped a person is.
morally and spiritually, the more readily
will he yield to those lower prompt
lings often urged ON to deeds of out
lward violence and crime through their
linstfgation. Those who are more ad-
lvanced in their evolution will restrain
! those activities. more or less, in the
letter if not in the spirit. When
actuated by high ideals and a high
moral sense one will endeavor to con-
form TO the higher law. that of right
eousness. in his dealings with his fell
low beings even though living under
such false system of life. which
makes right living difficult, even for
the well mentioned, if they enter into
active life in association with their
fellows in any way. They are, more or
! less. influenced Ivy the thought OF self
protection and the necessity of look ing
out for their own interests. from fear
that they viii be taken advantage Of
by their enemies: for this is what 1t
really amounts to, in trade or other
wise.
! In looking At the matter in a broader
and more comprehensive way one finds
| that the same spirit prevails everywhere,
throughout the world. rot only in com
| mercial lines but IN politics, in the affairs
OF government. national. and interna-
| t!onal. and alas. most deplora BILE of all in
the realm OF religion itself. where more Of
! jealousy and strife is engendered and
ma infested than in any other partment
| of the affairs OF mankind.
! Just so long as the world of men (snd
women is actuated and governed by this
system of living there will be strife. con
| ficts. and wars unendns and so. neces-
sarily. the need OF protective measures
for the safety of individuals and nations
in defense of their rights OF individual
and national existence
| Until this system is changed to that OF
| unity and cooperation in all the depart
| ments of life wars will continue and uni
! versal peace will remain an utopian
| dream, which one may only hope to rea-
lie h" leaving the world and going to
some ina Cined place in the unseen realms
where strife and anita sonism are supposed
| to cease: which Is available to those. and
TO those only, who have been resigned to-
| and have submitted patiently, with a
lowly aid humble spirit. to the conditions
| which prevail in this world. This final
and after death estate is to be the re-
| ward, which is promised to all such the
way OF esca Pc from an evil world where
things can never he expected to he any
better. where nesCe can never be found
| Therefore, he resigned to lack Of pea ce
here, with conflict. with wars and all their