Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-03
Editors Letter Box
Competition Cause Of European War.

"
ment). opinion as the cause of the
great European conflict, Is a dlvloeo
Christianity. Mr.. Smiths ideas are I'M
questionably of deep conviction, al
though from a prejudicial viewpoint.
Evidently Mr.. Smith thinks the world
needs more religion and greater CO.
operation in church work. The CO.
| operative idea is a good one. and when
, put into practice, will produce good re-
suits.
What the world needs is broader
| Christianity, and less religion. Reh-
gion as demonstrated in these days
means adherence to creed. 10 De
bound by a creed is not tolerated by
thinking men today.
| Christianity In it's broadest sense. as
! taught by the man OF Galilee, is CO.
operation, pure and simple. 4 perfect
| freedom Of thought and speech is what
makes the soul a receptacle for the
| truth.
| land you shall know the truth and
the truth shall make you free" were
| the words Of a life that was the en-
| bodiment of truth, whose philosophy
! is the foundation upon which indiVid-
| ual life and character is unfolded to
| it's greatest achievements. upon which
nations succeed and advance. What
| individual life needs is more Christian
! ity not religion.
Christianity means cooperation with
| all mankind. To live the golden rule.
| To cooperate is to work together.
Competition is to work apart. or more
commonly speaking, to do the other
fellow" Cooperation means to build
up. competition to tear down or de-
stroy. Had MIR. Smith suggested COM
petition as the cause of the great east
ern conflict, he would have offered a
suggestion worthy Of the sober
thought OF kings, and peasants, of
monarchies and republics. and the in
habitants of every land.
Competition means a divided people.
hence wars, destruction. misery and
retrogression. Religion divides people.
Christianity unites them. Co-Opera
ton is Christianity individualized.
All strife begins with the individual
The individual smothers his own con-
science. and becomes a ready prey to
false ideas. They grow upon him. He
becomes an advocate, then an agita-
ton. Hc enlists others to his schemes
He soon creates mutiny. he raises all
army, he organizes a great corporation
to control prices. in other words, he
co-operates with others for selfish pur-
poses. BY cooperation he succeeds
This illustrates the success of working
together. What the universe needs is
world wide unselfish cooperation.
Love is the spirit of cooperation
Greed the spirit of competition. Wher
the former has been universally adopt
ed, then man will come into his own
and not until then. The economic
! thing to decide, is it worth while:
There is not a question of doubt but
what succeeding generations will par.
TALLY or fully realize the age OF coop.
Grafton or universal brotherhood.
Why wait for succeeding generations
to work out and enjoy the fruits o.
j. right living? Is it because we have
lived so long in cur present state OF
chaos, and social eruptions, that W,
seek nothing better? Are we like tn,
| urchins from the slums. who fear t.
change their surroundings? Are we en-
, vious Of others. fearful that they Nigh
t have as good as ourselves? Can 20,
discover within your own soul moth
: ing but greed and envy? Is it not pos
sible to realize that the welfare o
: all the world enlarges your own spher,
t and powers of development?
l The results of mans inventive geniu
, n the mechanical world is marvellous
t and yet he has left out the very fund
: amentalS which govern their use il
t promoting peace and happiness. II
$ other words, man has been robbed O
r tie fruits of his labors through gree,
, and craftiness of the few. Commercial
t ism has superseded brotherhood.
, Dollar diplomacy terminates in blood
shed and misery.
, differences Of opinion or competition
2 Tor control between the north and tn
: south was responsible for our grea
Civil War, in which century will no
eliminate it's effect.
+ Tho ka!ser's misdirected ambition !,
| co-opera ton with others Of a like min,
IN competition with the other European
nations for commerce and control. ar
e alone responsible for the greatest wa
2 In history. Because individual life i,
5 those countries has not worked out ;
: better plan of justice, they are toda,
: paying the awful price.
E In other words, the short-sightednes
t OF self-preservatlon has like a canoe,
f eaten to the very vitals of Europe'
t ! life and liberty.
Whom the gods would DESTROY. the
first make mad"
3 Europe is mad but the excuse is g
: poor there are none willing to ADM
the cause. Their policies were founde
upon greed
The broad expanse Of the Atlanti
! ocean would almost seem to save u
from this terrible carnage.
: personally l have no Authorization n
immediate danger of war. Whether "
nave 1t in the near future will denen
# upon the kind of manhood we develor
: or the spirit of cooperation or CONNIE
r tition develops. All may rest assure
tnat II the frenzied sentiment of wa,
4 and the building Of great nayies an
f great armies prevails, for the purpos
2 OF competing with other nations i,
war, and commerce, the day is not yer
n distant when we shall pay the toll
When We are plotting to DESTROY 9th
ers, at the same time we are b,ild;n
n the scaffold from which our own dea
n pody may swing. Who SO liyeth nv III
sword shall perish nv tho .u,.a