New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-29
THE GAME OF WAR
Its Magnificent Side Is Held to Blind Those
Who March or Watch.

/ q the Editor OF Inc ltlDuNes
Sir: At last we are a nation, with all tina,
that implies. We have a war, an enemy and
a death list all our own. How it must de-
light our professional war-mongers and
patriots.
We have ceased to reason. No one even
questions the Justice of it all. We simply
wait to see what our laundering and vscii-
ating government can say 70 JUSTIFY Its &C
tions. and decide in advance that the out
come. whatever 1t be, will be in accord with
truth and right.
When our troops were first sent into Mex
leo on the hot trail" of Villa, the people or
the United States were told that II was with
the consent of the Mexican government. u
is lust dawning on US that somebody lied
Lansing has admitted that the permission OF
the Mexican government had never been OBJ
tanned. The report was spread 20 give an
air of legality to an act which would otner-
wise be seen TO be what IL obviously IS an
act Of invasion. And even if pursuit on g
hot trail be legal and justihsbe, as Lansing
asserts it is, Villas trail has long grown
cold Our troops are blindly marching about
on foreign soil in pursuit OF an outlaw whose
whereabouts they do not even know.
But we have now reached the stage where
we are cold to logic and reason. Our gov
eminent has effectively prevented any cues
tioning of its methods and policies by sound
ing note which always has and always VIII
arouse mems emotions and stfe their com
mon sense-the note Of battle.
As our government is rapidly pushing US
into war who stops to ask what Mexico has
20 plead IN her defence? The Mexican gov
ernme1. has at the very beginning declared
its willingness to permit United States troops
NJ Tertiary. provided
we extended the same privilege TO Mexican
soldiers. For years 10 has been the custom
for American God save the msrk,) cowboys
and border ruffans 70 raid Mexican territory
and rape its women Mexico's request, then,
was reasonable and fair. But our govern
ment ignored the offer, and after invading
foreign soil under false pretences even 20 rs
own people il is presumlng on its vastly su-
oerior strength 20 force from a weak and
weary reighbor concession which itself 70
is unwilling to grant
But Washington is playing its cards well
Oar imaginations are inhamed by the sound
of drum and bugle and the sight Of march
ing men. The magnificent game OF war IS
on. and we want to join and play not think.
There is something stirring about war You
speak the truth when you say that war en-
mobiles men and women, because war de-
mands self-sacrhce. The thought OF conflict
and death stirs to the bottom our innate love
Of glory and adventure. Principles sink 70
the background. The elemental facts OF lfe
and death change our entire thinking proc
esses, and we are ready to give up our lives
for what
Watch your militiamen marching down tne
street. How many OF them are really thinH'
ing of definite object to be obtained py me
war? Many Of them have joined long ago
for no other reason than the frankly ad'er-
tised inducements of a gymnasium ana Do"'-
ing alleys. Now their government calls them
70 war. No one denies their willingness 10
20. But is there question Of reason or
Justice In their minds? Isn't 10 rather the
spirit OF exultation IN battle, wrong or right
Isn't 10 merely the JOY Of playing the game OF
life and death. a game for cosmic STAKES
And so those o. US who think that all mas
not yet been said for Mexico. who doubt the
sincerity of our own government, look with
sorrow into the future when as experiences
In Europe has shown US even some OF US
will be caught by the glamour and spirit OF
war to sacrifice ourselves IN an unjust cause
and thrillingly march 20 the conquest OF
miserable. half-starved country, racked by
years of civil war. Exaltedy We shall be
killing men whose love Of country and eager
ness 10 die for truth and justice are fully
as great and sincere as our own.
JACOB Brooches ARONOFF
New York June % 1916.