The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-21
Dissecting the Pacifist.

In one OF the maddest OF his fan
tastic novels. Glib IT Chesterton pic.
lures an England turned into one
grea; insane asylum with Iuna,ics
for keepers and for doctors. Those
who have managed 20 keep their
heads reasonably level may have
something OF the same sensation
when they see learned professors
OF psychology. biology. neurology
and like formidable specialties get
ting themselves so heated up Ia the
general excitement as 10 drag pa
ciasts into the laboratory FOR vivi
section One OF these wonderful
experts, writing in the grave pages
Of the Atlantic Monthly. finds pa
ciism TO be a variant of that form
Of degenerate peTversion which
takes an abnormal pleasure in SUI
fering A no less brilliant line OF
thought is followed mp by DR. Stew.
art Patton, lecturer in neuro- biology
N Princeton university. who. like
Col. Roosevelt. finds the pacihst
weakling He gives this depressing
diagnosis
The memories % saprointed am
billions. or % defeat IN personal con
hists. are projected outward and oft
en- Aymbolized by the extreme adj
yoc-cy u some ethical or political
measure FOR 'nsuring peace. The
iden 81 struggle. ~ war. IL ahhor-
rent. not primarily because the hap
pinsHs and welfare of others are
concerned bat because the ghosts 81
unsolved personal problems constant
ly force them selves upon their atten.
ton What amounts to excuses for
failure 70 adjust their own activities
successfully IL expressed IN variety
OF ways. Sometimes q Is assumed
devotioo 10 an Intellectual pursuit
with an svowed contempt for practi-
cal iife: or ~ may be tho pharisal-
cal declaration that war IL not a sub
iect that educated persons should
consider The possibility OF the re-
turn % weakened sense Of person
atty - something that cannot be
contemplated with equanimity. and
therefore Their" - a prompt rejection
OF every suggestion 81 struggle ma
tionAl as we'll "a personal.
There IS William jennings Bryan,
for example; as a failure who can
be compared with him. Not many
Americans can hope FOR a chance 10
fail so often OF election 20 tho presi-
dency. Yet as a lecturer. as man
Of business with an eye 20 solvency,
and az politician who has won the
regard OF great part OF mis- fellow
citizens, the author OF The First
Battle" and Under Other Flags"
can hardly be written OF as mere
derelict. so depressed by the mem
DRY OF personal defeats as 20 hate the
very notion OF contest. II defeat al
the polls could be credited with such
an effect how is II that Col. Roose-
velt has come back from that river
Of doubt. Salt Greek. a hotter Hot
spur than ever
There IL the sad case OF Henry
Ford. He Is another miserable fail
ure, for one can rarely watch the
traffic on a busy street very long
without seeing car OF some other
make pass. Plenty OF business men.
In other lines. think this bad leak IN
his own affairs ought 20 have been
plugged up before he turned his at
tention TO the world at large and It's
troubles. still. even failure is rela-
tive: there are non-paciflsts on a sal
airy who would not be unwilling TO
fail like Ford. On the whole, we
may doubt also whether In his case
defeat In personal conflicts" ex-
plains why 10 him the idea OF
struggle, OF war. IL abhorrent"
II is however, an interesting line
OF inquiry. and n might profitably
be followed up with mathematical
biological dissertation on tangents.
normals and subnormals. explaining
why II Ia that lost nut II dlsas-
trous 10 highgeared mental machin.
cry In the ratio Of the cube OF the
vertical rotation TO the total thought
mass. II the war lasts much longer
the professors will be much alike
in all countries Springfield Repub'
iican.