New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-27
A DEFENCE OF PACIFISM
Why a Reader Doubt; the Motive Behind
the Beating of War Drums.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune is so generous about
opening its columns to those whose opinions
differ from its own that ! am hoping 10 mas
show consideration even 20 ono OF that mceh
ridiculed class known as pacifs.s. De- seems
20 be the general opinion that pachs,s ar
opposed to preparedness. | cannot speak for
all of them, but those who think and feel
as I do very much object TO this idea Of
them We thoroughly believe in prepared
ness. so thoroughly that no halfway meas.
ures will satisfy us. That is our qeatte.
with the advocates Of military preparedness
they do not 20 far enough 20 SUR u8 ln
our opinion. 10 is fatuous for a man VINO f
suffering from cancer 10 stuff his belt Win
pistols and complacently assure himself tha'
he is safe. and just as fatuous for "a nation
threatened with serious internal disorders
70 devote itself 70 building up military dee
fences against foreign inyasions We bee
lieve that any system Of national defence
must be based fundamentally upon The .of-
atty OF healthy. intelligent, contented ciu-
zcns. and we doubt the sincerity Of a pre-
paredncss programme which does not inci1d'
the establishment of conditions that wll n-
sure the largest possible number of such
citizens
Those vociferous gentlemen who arc scor-
ing us because we are reluctant 20 see our
nation enter the futile race for can army
and navy second 10 none" solcmnly assure
us that they do not want that army and navy
for purposes OF aggression; their only Dr.
sire is to protect the hearths and homes 20.
America. Perhaps but we are suspicious
It would be easy. however. for them 90 prove
to us that they mean what they say. They
have only 70 show the same tender concern
for American hearths and homes in other
forms OF preparedness not so Spectacular
but far more vital Last year a number %.
young men won 2 good deal of commentator
because they left their comfortable homes ''
endure for a few weeks the rigors OF iIio no
a training camp. Let those same young men
20 TO work this year side by side WITH me
most poorly paid laborcrs iu our mills ana
mines and factories. living In their homc.'
eating their food studying at first hand .''
tactics Of the deadliest foes that can threaten
the integrity Of a nation greed for proH'1
at anv price and the smouIdcrng hatred ol
class against class. let the able. infJerta.
gentlemen who spent so much time ana
thought and effort In preparing p gorgeous
spectacle a week ago set their efficient m.H''
to work or some really man sized job t'
Job. for instance Of winning back rosiec.
for the law by securing an equal admins SRA.
ton Of justice for rich and poor; the Job o'
doing away with unemployment or or an.
ranging for a more general distribution OF
the nations wealth. perhaps even f tley
are really as Jealous as they claim 90 he 20.
the welfare Of American homes tlo Job OF
Gbolshing poverty altogether.
We believe that they could do % 10 ihe'
we're TO try; so much faith we have boo ''e''.
But We do not believe that they have i.
faintest intention Of trying And 500 vc look
askance upon their programme OF m.i',a'f
preparedness. and question whether they are
really as much concerned with tho presef''
ton Of American ideals as they are "'ih i.'
protection Of American dollars invested ''
foreign territory. Sometimes we ar' t'',
inclined 70 wonder whether an this hlare %,
bands and rattle Of drums may not oe Ut
bottom "a sort OF beating Of tom-.oms I'd
drown out the crying issues Of The hour
NJ. Il. WAGENHAls
New York. May 20 1916