The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-15

pared to accept without complaint any
condemnation which his own errors
may bring upon him; he must be
willing to bear any deserved punish
ment from ostracism to execution. But
near me before you pass sentence.
One in Purpose.
'EThe president and l agree in pur-
pose; we desire a peaceful solution
of the dispute w1ich las arisen be-
tween the United States and Germany
We not only desire it, but with equal
fervor we pray for it but We differ
irreconcilably as to the means Of Sc
curing it. If it were merely per-
sonal difference it would be matter
of little moment, for all the presump-
tions that go with power and author
ity. He is your president; I am pri-
vate citizen without Office or title
but one of the Hundred million of in
habitants.
"But the real issue is not between
persons; it is between systems; and [
rely for vindication wholly upon the
strength of the position taken.
Among the influences which gov
ernments employ in dealing with each
other there are two which are pre-
eminent and ntagonistic-force and
persuasion. Force speaks with firm
ness and acts through the ultimatum;
persuasion employs argument, courts
investigation and depends upon nego-
tiations. Force represents the old
systematic system that must pass
away; persuasion repreents the new
systematic system that has been
growing for 1900 years. In the old
system war is the chief cornerstone
war which at its best is little better
than war at it's worst; tie new sys-
tenn contemplates universal broth
erhood established through the uplift-
ing power of example.
According to Old System.
eff l correctly interpret the note to
Germany, it conforms to the stand
ards of the old system rather than to
the rules of the new, and cheerfully
admit that it is abundantly supported
by precedents-precedents written IN
q. .aracters of blood upon almost every
page of human history. Austria fur
nishes the most recent precedent; II
was Austria's frmness that dictated
the ultimatum against Servia, which
set the world at war. Every ruler
. now participating in this unparalleled
conflict has proclaimed his desire fol
peace and denied responsibility fol
the war, and it is only charitable
that we should credit all Of them
! with good faith They desired peace
but they sought it according to the
.. rules of the Old system. They be-
j lieved that flrmness would give the
best assurance of the maintenance o.
peace and faithfully following pre-.
j cedent they went so near the fire
tat they were, one after ahotner
sucked into the contest. Never before
have the frightful follies of this fata
system been so clearly revealed as
now. The most civilized and enlight
ened-aye, the most Christian Of the
nations of Europe-are graphing witt
each other as if in death struggle
They are sacrificing the best and
bravest Of I5eir sons on the battle,
field; they are converting their gard
ems into cemeteries and their homes
into houses Of mourning; they are
taxing the wealth Of today and laying
burden OF debt on the toll Of the
future; they have filed the air with
tnunderbolts more deadly than those
of Jove and they have multiplied the
perils OF the deep. Adding fresh fue.
to the flame Of hate, they have daily
devised new horrors, until one side is
endeavoring to drown noncombatant
men, women and children at sea
while the other seeks to starve non.
combatant men, women and children
on land. And they are so absorbed
in alternate retaliation and in COM
petitive cruelties tnat they seem, fol
the time being, blind to the rights
of neutrals and deaf to the appeals
of humanity. A tree is known by its
fruit. The war in Europe is the rip
ened fruits of the old system.
FirThness and Force.