The Detroit times., 1916-11-21
The Return to Reason
5Y Or, FRANK CRANE
Copyright, 1915. by Frank Crane)

If thing is right il is bound to come.
\ bad thing. no matter how en-
treuched in custom, buttressed by preiu-
dice, and rooted in mems passions, is
bound to go.
War is wrong, wicked silly, irrational,
,rsane. and deserving of every other vile
and contemptuous cpithet that can be
coined against it 1t is wrong. no mat
ter how preened with flags, glorifed with
. .trumpets. and steamed up by national
vanity
Already there are signs that the minds
Of the leaders of men are swinging
around to perceive the utter horror and
uSelessneSs of war II is distressing to
see what terrific bludgeoning is neces-
sary 20 bring the world-mind away from
its mania and back to reason, but, at
whatever cost, reason must prevail
In England Earl Grey recently added
his voice to that of James Bryce in favor
of some, sort of League to Enforce Peace,
expressing sympathy with the movement
in America TO establish a tribunal
whereby international disputes can be
settled.
A. c. Gardner, editor of the London
Daily News, in strong editorial. shows
the English people the significance of
Americas entry into world politics.
America, he tells them, will say
we wanted TO stand aside from your
quarrels, but We sec your quarrels are
no longer European quarrels, but world
.aoarrels. We cannot escape them if we
would, and since we cannot escape them
we must help you stop them.
we will Join you TO make war on war.
Preparedness in the European sense has
cen preparedness for war. 1t was
-prung Of fear hate and ambition; it al
ways ended in war, and always must end
in war. Ii you return to that gospel
after this experience you will reap its
ruits again.
We come into the field, not to add
new brigand power to the world but to
ask YOU to accept our cooperation in
making brigandage illegal, and in organ
lzing a force which will make ~>lmpos-
sble.
Tn Germany Professor Hans De'brueck,
he noted political writer, says, in the
current number of the Prussian Year
Book that it i the duty of Germany to
Join the growing movement for the crea-
ton Of some practical form Of world
tribunal The war itself he continues,
Is bringing about a change Of attitude.
The general sentiment in favor Of pacific
measures for the settlement of disputes
now probably has crystallzed TO such an
extent among the people of all nations
hat it has become a factor in the en-
forcement Of arbitration DEGREES that can
be reckoned with in practical way
which was not the case prior to this
war
Even the Berlin Vorwaerts is giving
evidence that the dominant thought of
Germany ia beginning to see that If the
European nations adhere TO their stub
born purposes the end must be universal
ruin
Field Marshal Won Iindenburg," 1t
says, advises France to be reasonable.
| This advice will have better chance Of
being heard if we show ourselves rea-
sonabe. too. If we are going to drag
this war on indefinitely, then the whole
Of Europe will bleed to death, and Amer
lea and the colored races will be our
heirs.
But we want Europe to live, not Ger
many only but all the nations. We want
France to live. We see her now bleeding
white, but we have never hated her. We
want peace also for England and Russia,
Ipeacc for the whole blood-stained world.
Earnestly do we hope, and fondly do
We pray, that such utterances are signs
lof return of the crazed worlds mind
I fo reason