New-York tribune., 1916-04-26
A PACIFIST'S CONVERSION
Means by Which II Has Been Effected Since
August, 1914.

To tho Editor Or The Tribune
Sir: cannot claim that have long bs,'
reader of The Tribune; perhaps il would
have been well for my mental and moral &C.
vclopmont had ! commenced a. an earlier
period 30 study is editorial page bs,
sense Of Indebtedness prompts ne 10 81
that since the outbreak OF the European a.
have sometimes found i, inspiring FOR ,a'
stand which it has consistently taken in r.
stion 20 the war and our onn deep eonc'Fi
therein.
say our deep concern therein. for II o.
country stands for the advance Of cyiliu'
ton and the introduction Of Christian mo'''
into international relations we cannot re-
main Indifferent and ought not 70 renaa
neutral while Frcnchmcn. Englishmsn 'h'
Bclgans sacrifice life and fortune in an e.
fort 10 stem the tide OF German sggresson.
Until abou, two years ago J counted my''i
an extreme pacifst; so ingralned ana 'ys1
n-the-woo" was ny faith in moral 'uso'
and my aversion for .he militarism Of ~.
rope that our late Secretary Of State eouS
hardly have gone too far for me in what
NOiltAlfifH INNNi lffNA. 'htA'F rtt'
anv-price" polcv But things which hS'
happened since August, 1914. have pu' su''
a different face upon our internsuohS' ..
tics and interests that to-day J am an so'V
cate Of a larger army and navy and an 81
ous 10 see our country align itsei OF u"
side OF the Entente Allies IN such VS. :,
TO throw all OF our moral. economic -
financial strength on their side. inc
siderations which nave worked thi' ons'''
in tho mental attitude Of one TIME P
nounccd pacifst may be outlined as fonV,
For generations past The humber e"
ir evcrv country OF Europe Germany
cludedl have looked 10 this Repuoie
exponent Of popular government n'"
tarianism and q higher standard ., wv"
in international dealings. During tne
period in Germany there has de'elops'
minds Of the governing classes ana '"'
tarists tho enticing dream Of "orla ., emp
10 be striven for and attained BY we"
means arc found necessary eitner iA
foul: tho old distinction between n''n' 3,
thine has been lost sight o. by mem, =
has been eloquently taught BY ieso' ..,.
public opinion that when the s'S'' -,
posed interests are concerned me 80,
rules or Christian morality ere "V
to be regarded or lived up 70. t.,,,,
Before the outbreak o. this var -,
Cramb. a close and remarkably symP'
student, Of the German people 60 >,
graphic picture Of their patriotic 'sV. ..,
new and splendid world empire 70 V 100.
,ccordinr 70 their conception upon 'ne r.
Of the existing British Empire. We GO =,
see thet this dazzling dream. carr; Ger
couraged and fostered b. the lesasr esas.;..ss
man thought. must appeal win - 70
force 90 a patriotic people. ner'"k s.,
endure terrible suffering and 'aef'"' .,,,s
anv American who takes IN me 'ho,' ,,.,b
c,rce Of j, must see At once that u A.,
inconsistent With the ideals on WIZ. .,,
Repubnc "a founded and for ~hien y ,e,
striven Furthermore. such poh'y' Ger.
cessfully started and carried fo'"Ni' IN,
many would inevitably. in course o. 81.
bring the United States into comm" ,srs
that country. No kind o. diplomas. -, u.
amour, Of note writing eouid rr.'
inevitable TRIAL ot strength bet'een ns,-,.'
movers guided and actuated by sue" .o,e,,.
natives and holding such d'iere"'
lous of right ,, sr.sr
10 the report OF the Bryce Comm's'.,,|,os. ,os.
the German accounts Of the 'noV'. hsv,
ages. sometimes by accident f. .I;,, hr
including women and children 10 ''' -, G.,
hopelessly wide IS the Sulf be'"ee" a,,,lre
mans under their war frenzy ana -,
II = certainly n case where arg. Az
worse than wasted. The sooner c,r,n
ourselves with the opponents of 'ne .o-E
Fr,r,rc the better It will be FOR IN. nv. sr
future. II we still have any OF W. us
moral purpose which We have avs, n*
was our best inheritance from 0. RS
fathers. we can hardly wish 10 enact
,ral while this terrible struggle d''..,c ..,.,,c
Europe in blood. and TO make our
effective the sooner We act the oe'"urgs
Mann, Nrrnnn \ Y Aprll II. wv