South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-18

Jungle. Or is organized efficiency impersonal.
wholly non-moral in any familiar meaning OF
the word. and remorseless in it's operations.
the last word OF human attainment? Has a
state been evolved so far beyond any political
society hitherto known that 1t is indeed law
unto itself and a law giver to the world?
Whatever may have been true of nations in
the past. or OF other nations now, may an inn
perfal state Of this new and highest type abjure
covenants, and contemn the restraints that
other nations have confidently expected one
another TO regard?
In my judgment the most significant thing
that mas happened within these twelve months
since the conflict began is the hating and IN.
willing, but unmistakable answer to these
questions 1t Is an answer profoundly different
from that which would have been made year
ago. Men are saying: These questions, so
put, are academic. Our questions should ask
not may, but can Whatever our convictions.
Wh9teVer our ideals. whatever our notions OF
rlght and wrong our view Of what ought TO be
must embrace our sober judgment Of our power
to put ou' ideals into concrete realization, to
back up our contentious, to set bounds to the
actual achievement Of any Power which pro-
claims that the absolute state must dominate
the EARTH disrega rdfu Of considerations pur-
porting to have higher warrant than its own
will"
This practical answer has taken shape IN the
minds Of practical men in the neutral nations.
as we'll as in England and in France because
the progress of the far has demon
strated two things which, a year ago. were not
believed outside Of Germany. One of these
things is that millions of human beings actu-
ally uphold the absolute state, and are ready
TO live for it or to die for it fate may decree.
The other fact is that these millions OF thor
oughly convinced men have made themselves
the most formidable fighting machine that
has been seen In action.
These facts create a practical situation.
What would it avail il all the rest OF the
world should believe that nations like indi-
viduals. should keep their word and fulfil their
contracts; that there are principles OF right
and wrong which are imposed upon man by
conditions that not even kings or parliaments
can make or unmake II the rest of the world
could not prevent the absolute state from i'm
posing its yoke upon the human race or upon
the supposedly civilized part OF It?
What does il avail to talk peace If the righl
Of conquest is asserted by a Power that is
strong enough to conquer? Obviously. one oil
two things must be recognized and accepted
Either the. dogma OF the absolute state Is
sound ii does represent the latest and thus
far highest stage in social evolution. 1t does
supersede the older politics and older moral
ities. in which case the sooner the whole world
is brought within IL the better TOT every BODY
and for every legitimate interest or 1t Is raise
abhorrent and the most formidable peril thar
has menaced civilization from the beginning
In which case It is the duty OF practical men ia
confront Il by resolute opposition and the
most effective means that can be brought to
bear.
In a word, practical ren have awakened &c
= realization chat pachsts, iesaists, maralists
IdeaIists, must decide whether they .sanS th'
peace of the lady who rode home inside tbs
tioer or the peace Of the collector who brought
the tiqer home in cage 70 the Zoo.
Next IN significance to this awakening OF ths
mind OF civilized man TO the nature and eondi
tons OF the real problem that confronts the
nations is the discovery that Germany saw 1t
analyzed II arrived at her own solution OF II
aud made amazing preparattOns TO act in &C
cordance with her conclusions, long before th'
rest OF the world perceived IL at all or put AM
faith in the travellers tale that Germany hat
forrpnl0tAd % md Uas working AZ IT. What