Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-25

new study of the whole question, no
so much in the light of our history
as in the immediate crisis that ha'
come upon us and Of a proper ap'
probation of our probable future. Tc
us the scene of men in uniform, OPP
Grating great canon of destruction
practicing with the deadly marine OF
turning the airship into bomb throw.
ers is wholly unwelcome and I'M
pleasant Our traditions are against
It; our cosmopolitan population feels
comfortable without these military
operations. but the world that was
slumbering in peace was suddenly
awakened in its very midnight slum-
bers to witness the most awful car
mage of death the world has ever
known. The end is not yet.
"Those who advocated peace be-
cause men would arbitrate by reas-
on were mistaken; those that advo-
Gated ample preparedness to insure
peace We're Mistaken but there is
this substantial difference in the re-
suit of the two mistakes, the man
who made his mistake in the hope OF
peace by reason is without an army
and guns, the man who advocated
preparedness to hold the peace is
mistaken but he has guns and men,
The later mistake is inferably pref
cradle. With the entire world either
in active warfare or in serious diplo-
matte difficulties, without any ex-
ceptons it may be truly said that the
spirit of war fills the world. Among
The various groups in our country the
one that deserves the very kindest
consideration is the so-called peace
group who base their opposition TO
preparedness on the fundamental ten
cts of the Christian religion.
Christian Principle.
"The principles enunciated by the
Prince of Peace preclude any and all
sorts of warfare. If this is true
then how can follower of the MAJ
arene advocate preparedness? l can
see but one way out in attempting to
harmonic adequate preparedness
with the fundamental principles of
Christlanity-that one way is a frank
admission that the principles set
forth as fundamental in the Chris
tan religion do not serve as the final
rule of action in determining racial
or economical arguments. We need
not be alarmed if these principles are
ruthlessly cast aside on questions as
between nations of the world, for the
same principles clearly indicate that
one man has no right to be angry
with another.
"He who sent the angels to sing,
Peace on earth and good will to-
ward men, Himself said, He who is
angry with his brother without q
cause is murderer and If you are
smitten on one cheek to turn the
other And yet one so-called Chris
tian man uarreled with another Chris
tan man and two Christian men
stand before properly appointed
courts because in the spirit of Chris.
tianity they are unable to settle their
difficulties. So-called Christian men
are arrested by Christian police, haul
ed off in patrol wagons by Christian
drivers, tried in Christian courts, tax
en- to Jail by Christian iailer, and
ole in penitentiary with their Chris
tian warden, all of which is sanction
ed by the almost unanimous voice
and vote of a Christian country.
Reasons for Preparedness.
IF we take precautions of this
kind on the small affairs of life and
hy force compel men to behave is
there any logical reason why these
same individuals who collectively
compose nations should not have suf-
ficient force to compel proper order
as between the family of nations in
the world? We do not advocate
preparedness because the Scriptures
do not teach such a life and spirit as
would preclude all force, but we
advocate preparedness because these
principles are not effective as the
last analysis of conduct, either in
individuals or in nations.
Principles.
Some of the powerful nations OF
the world do not subscribe to the
fundamental principles of Christian
ity and on them they lay no claim.
Therefore, there is no greater incon
sistency in a Christian advocating
adequate preparedness as between
nations than there is in advocatine
proper police protection in his 10
cality or in his state or in his nation.
While the church has been divinely
Instituted to preach PEACE to the
world the same Lord gave divine
. sanction to the institution known as
the state. He clearly expressed this
when he said, Give unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars. and unto
| God the things that are Gods plain
" indicated when he enjoined upon
his disciples that they should pray
for the peace and prosperity of the
state; he indicated it further when
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