New-York tribune., 1916-06-18
Peace NOW Would Mean
World in Flames Later
Allies in Position of North in Civil War: They Must
Continue Fight or Face Future Menace of
Worse War. Says Garvin.
BY J. l.. GARVIN.

BY J. l.. GARVN.
London, June l7.-For obvious rea-
sons it may not be premature to dis
cuss the connection between European
peace and your Presidential campaign.
Before removing some more illusions
about the present and future of the
war let me guard against misunder-
standing.
1t is not true that there Is no graft
tude in international politics. Some
day we hope to prove TO those whose
sympathy has stood by us in our hour
of trouble that we wear them in our
heart of hearts. Neither shall We for
get them in our time nor leave our
children unmindful. With all our
faults, we are made that way. There
is condition Of reserve which per-
haps causes us 10 appear otherwise, so
that we must sometimes seem almost
thankless toward our friends. The rea-
son is that we have found it best for
Anglo American relations to hold stead
fastly to golden rule. We cannot
take sides in your party struggles nor
comment upon them except with severe
restraint.
Constitution Above All.
The American Constitution is there
above all your changes. Whoever may
occupy the White House, there is de-
manded from foreign nations respect
for the choice Of the American people.
We are bound to remember in all CIR
cumstances that an American President
is not only the chief Of party, but the
head Of the state. This imposes more
reserve, perhaps, than Is always good,
either for your interests or ours, but
on the whole the reserve is best. Con-
sistently with 1t, let me state some
iron facts and first principles which
will be repeatedly misunderstood In tne
course of your electoral struggle be-
tween June and November. =.
The cable is continually sending
across the Atlantic three kinds OF
rumors or suggestions. One is that
the war in Europe will soon collapse
of itself. Another is that the war IS
protracted without need by general
iunacy in Europe and that the Allies
are now slightly more insane than their
rivals. The third suggestion is that
there may be some movement for an
early American Intervention IN the
name of humanity. This is the propo-
sition which requires hard scrutiny
from all who desire indeed TO serve
humanity.
Peace Must Be Lasting.
In Europe, and in the United States
as well-for how do you know wnat
may happen in the world sooner OF
later unless we all find some surer
guarantee for the future than vague
optimism can afford millions OF male
children are rising at their mothers
knees happily exempt from TINS war.
The important thing for humanity Is
that when they are taller they shall
not he cut down like corn by the Red
Reaper in another war.
The successful agent of weak states
manship on either side Of the Atlanuc
the author of premature peace
might easily prove in the result 10 De
q more notent apostle of slaughter than
Nahomet and the cause OF worse ue-
struction than we see OF Destruction
on both sides of the Atlantic, IN
wider war than this. For II there are
20 he no better foundations for peace
and Justice and no stronger guarantees
for the faith of treaties, the next war
must necessarily be wider and worse
The whole world must be in II.
Long War Means Firm Peace
When we search for the soul Of good
ness in things evil there appears one
CONDENSATION. and one only, Tor the
horror we are in and for the iear1ui
prospect which stretches before US ana
must be faced without blenchlng OF ly-
inc to ourselves. The longer thls war
lasts the more likely Is peace TO De
solid enduring perhaps even peIpei-
nal ANY patched-up settlement lead /
ino n another outbreak in a few years
would be the most hldeous FORM OF
waste and inhumanlty.
In Germany alone, as now governed
reign the war lord, the war caste, the /
war pride. the war religion-the deadly
combination Of the theory Of war-made- /
to-nav with the serious claim to ma
tional superiority. ..
This struggle was caused by a state
of mind. In the closing decade OF tne
nineteenth century, vixen the haisers .
subjects had added a brilliant indus
trial expansion and power OF wealth /
making 10 their achievements IN learn .
ING and arms, the good old German /.
modesty. once only too humble IN some /.
yvavs. was replaced BY the sin Of Luci- /
fer yulgarized 10 bourgeois concert. F.
Germans began to speak habitually OF /
the decadent French, the lazy Eng /
lisb. the barbarous Russians. the child /
ish Italians. the mongrel Americans, /
and so forth Until that spirit is
tanned on the battlefield civilization /
will get no good. The tanning VIII take .
time.
Allies Would End All War.
The Allies mean to persevere. They
are up against q good deal and they .
know il. Leave US to fight IT out for .
the best. Neither Britain nor France
want more wars. Russia within her
self has much, very much, TO 90; the
ideas OF Tolstoy are more characters
tic of the Russian race and Of Its pro-
found sense of human brotherhood
than the armies of the Car. The
Gar himself is the author OF the
Hague conference. These three pow
crs may be counted on as among the
frmest members Of the peace league
which ought TO exist after the war,
and which the United States ought
then TO Join for its own sake, not
ours. But there must first exist toll
erable and secure situation.
If that situation is to be estah-
lished, indeed, there can be no real
solution this year, barring miracles,
and the war will be at its very height