The sun., 1916-08-20
paron d'Estournelles de
Constant Tells Why War
Must Go On.
GNERICA'S FIGHT AS
WE'LL AS EUROPE'S
French Statesman Holds
German Militarism Is
Menace to All.
b, EDWARD MARSHALL.

By EDWARD MARSHALL.
? rERD u an immensely impor-
- tant interview for American
L peace advocates to read.
ne man who speaks 10 one Of the
worlds great leaders in their line Of
thought, . pacihst Of great celebrity.
vhs always has maintained his dignity
snl who. despite his importance in the
councils Of the opponents Of war. has
Maintained his position Of leadership in
tho Affairs Of France. q nation enforc-
inn military service, situate A. one Of
Inc great segments Of Europe's circle
Of armed camps--and now desperately.
asrcsly. unrcmittingly. eficiently and
terribly at q
He il N. ie Baron d'Estournelles Dc
Constant. Senator Of France for many
years. known widely in the United
States, and now IN advocate OF the
continuance Of this great war until it,
bitter end, not very hopeful Of the
future but convinced that the right
eousness Of that future lies in the
hands Of the Allies-and the United
States!
He believes these Powers to b the
worlds human and humane powers.
and that while the first requisite Of an
Importantly lasting peace after tho end
Of this struggle il the defeat Of the
Teutonic nations now. the second ID an
understanding against war and for hu.
man happiness and progress on the
part Of these great nations.
In other words, he is not now a
peace man in the old sense. He 10 Q
war man In a new sense.
The present struggle. he maintains.
must be fought through to its CORY
dnish--and after that? Who knows?
At present war. not peace--war for tho
rights Of humanity and the holiness Of
decent nations.
Is Aaerica's War.
Is our war-America's-he main
tains. as much a. It is the war of
France, OF England. Russia, Italy and
Belgium.
II, quibbling (as he thinks unworth-
iy). We insist upon violation OF our
own individual rights before we rise in
wrath. he feels that We were given
cause suficient long ago. II We do not
bubble. but. living true to our tradi-
tons, consider not alone our rights
but those OF suffering. aspiring and
advancing humanity. we had cause
enough for fighting. he definitely as
serts. in the first days of the war. when
little Belgium was trampled under foot.
I remain an advocate Of peace.e he
eaid with non-paciistic FIRE. 1.-THE
more I am an advocate Of peace the
more | wish to make war utterly i'm
possible.
The more I wish to make war ut
'erly impossible the more I am con-
WINGED hat war alone can do it-this
war. Fought to its grim end.
Should We abandon this great
struggle before the causes which have
thrust It on humanity are utterly re-
moved. before the mad promoters Of
us frightfulness' are crushed, II would
out make quite certain that a similar
struggle would come after II. and DOT
am proud and happy to say that
ootn In France and England all Of
" who are attached to peace feel
uat the more we are attached to
peace the more We now must be at
Ached to war, because to stop this
.er before 1t reaches its climax In the
Iuh triumph Of decency and right
would be to capitulate the cause Of
peace AlmnQt fnrn.,ar L. f,a- - thn
cause Of war.
Must Crush MTitarism.
because we now are firmer than
sver IN our opposition to the perpetual
aoh OF war as a means Of settling dis
putes betwee nations. we know that
We cannot allow Prussian militarism
10 triumph, for such a triumph would
result In the complete destruction Of
Yur principles. II we wish to see fruit
oorne by principles we frst must
set rid forever OF Prussian militarism.
IL we beat Prussian militarism, all
militarism thereby will be discour-
ssed. That Is what the United States
should think OF
- believe your country should have
pN this from the start. 1t seems to
NE you have done too little feeling and
100 much studying.
what Is the situation now? This
y not a war between the cOntending
Iowers only. Its beginning was the
aggression Of Prussian militarism
against poor, neutral little Belgium.
's cad. therefore. must be the end Of
such a possibility.
rms war is a war between strength
ana freedom between autocratic mill
'dr,sm and liberty, between humanism
sna lrightfulness, between aggression
shd neutrality. between. In other
"ords' right and wrong.
IL Ia a a on the side Of our
snehles against, and on our side In
avor of' all that YOU are representing
IN the world.
III seems clear to me that you must
consider these things. Not only your
principles, but the simplest laws Of life
"se'i demand that you should defend
.nat You have stood for and that for
"h'ch you stand"
Should We have taken q different
, curse at the start. when Bslgium
We violated?" I asked.
I always have said." the 6amous