The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-01


a spirited discussion OF peace was provoked
at a meeting Of the Chicago Woman's Club last
Wednesday bya a recommendation from It's
peace committee" that the club Join the Wo-
mans Peace Party as group member" from
the Chicago Tribuno's account Of the meeting
it appears that the eleh membership comprises
many women who are also membe OF patriotic
societies Some Of these stoutiy opposed any
movement that would tend TO commit them TO
i .'peace-at-any- price" propaganda.
Mrs Robert II. WIles, whom the Tribune de-
s"Tibe< rs active member of the Daughters
of the American Revolution. took the floor 70
declare that. while she opposed all wars Of es-
sression she against ali wars. I do
not like war" she declared, no one here could
feel more deeply against It. But If had lived
lu Belgium last August. would have advocated
war the limit Of my ability. 1 would have
aent my two sons to fight. and If they had
fused TO 60. I would have felt that ] had not
brought thcn mp right" The discussion finally
resulted IN The adoption Of resolution offered
by Mrs. Wiles, placing the club on record as
opposed TO all ware Of aggression" and lat all
times and under all circumstances in favor Of
peace. based on righteousness and Justice
The adoption Of the resolution by a woman's
tllA which should bo fairly repreSen tative.
strikes Us as encoura etng and noteworthy lis
proponents arc after all, the truest friends of
peace, Tiiey realize. most Of the peace sen
timentalsts APPARENTLY do not, that no peace
can be lasting which is not based upon right
eousness and justice" They recognize the fur
Their great fact--which many American senti-
lncntalists fan to grasp alSo--that this people,
long It Is fit to survive, will defend itself
gainst unjust aggression injustice whether
ii b. prepared for defense or not. Even though
the peace propagandandists succeeded In halt
lug all measures OF national defense, thew could
not succeed in perSuading this people to adopt
the policy Of nonres,stance uudlsKuised Yet
it is toward that impossible goal that the peace
at-any- price advocates are tending. Few Of
them have the courage 10 admit SO much, res-
llzing that the admission would defeat their
aims. And many who oppose measures OF de-
Tense. persuade themselves suppose, to a
belief in This country's immunity from attack
and upon that mistaken assumption reason all
military preca ution unnecessary and sinful
There IS ln:stakiug the sincerity Of Ameri-
can womauhood'a desire for peace. All Ameri-
cans should be proud of H. But since the per-
ruaucut peace for which they hope must be
based upon righteousness and Justice" II Is well
chat the line should be squarely drawn between
wholesome and unwhoesome peace actiN ties.
Tic resolution Of tho Chicago Woman's club
strikes precisely the right note. We trust That
the N0mans Peace rarty may approve it. But
whether that party's approval Is given denied.
We have faitA 20 believe that overwhelming
majority of American women in and out OF the
clubs viii endorse Il whenever and wherever
iNey apply the peace-at-any- price teaching
,squarey to the case Of their country and
homes and situatioas-New Orleans Times
PicAyune