Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-18
CHRISTIANITY HAS
FAILED TO END WARS
CONTINUED From First Page

Wood declared that he also IS of
Quaker stock, thus precluding the pos
sibility of the other speaker gaining d
point on that score.
David Z. Tracy introduced the
speakers, who in turn wasted no words
in launching into their subject. Mr..
Wood divided the pacifists into three
and those of the Quaker faith. He
showed how history proves the neccs-
sity for preparedness and declared
Christianity a complete failure as q
preventative of war. History has
taught us that war Is a recurring phe-
nomenon and that it pays to be pre-
pared" He then drew the distinction
between offensive and defensive mill
tarism, the latter of which he and the
majority who are in favor of prepared
ness advocate. so long as there is an
offensive autocracy, as Germany he
said, there must be a defensive
democracy"
Adequate Navy Needed
Mr.. Wood declared himself as OPP
posed to war and desirous of peace,
but he feels that under present con-
ditions there exists a blood madness
in Europe" and the only quarantine
that we can have against this disease
is an adequate navy" who is there
to-day outside of Nebraska and De-
liOlI N1iO Ndil pIOhuNb u IpiIllult W
overcome the evil of war;" was one of
the humorous sallies which the speaker
occasionally interpolated in his re-
marks.
Referring to the present war, Mr..
Wood remarked that at the close of
hostilities we will have only Two
friends, the Atlantic and the Pacific,
the former having been crossed by Co.
lumbus and double crossed by Henry
Ford. Numerous statistics he rectted
to show our unpreparedness and in
ability to enforce our will except
through happy circumstances; as tor
instance, that the only reason why
the delivery of our virtual ultimatum
to Germany q few days ago was made
safe was the English fleet. During the
last two administrations, he said, we
have fallen from second to fourth
place among the navies of the world.
The speaker closed with an appeal
for public service on the part of our
citizens, not merely through the giving
of money, but by contribution OF
brains. energy and enthusiasm such
as each individual puts into his own
private business. He decried the
policy of the present administration
in granting post office appropriations
promiscuously and delaying the pass
age of laws that will make prepared
ness a reality. One of the strongest of
his statements was that protection
against German iDcursion in South
America after the war is included IN
present preparedness.
No Danger of War, Says PaclhSt
Professor Sharpless declared that
there will be no war with Germany
and that there is no nation that wants
to attack us. 1t was his opinion that
the preparedness propaganda Is un-
justified and Is merely one of those
waves of impulse that have swept over
the country time after time He eX-
pressed himself as in favor of delaying
legislation until we are more fully in
formed on the subject of armaments
so that if il does become necessary to
arm, we can do 1t with the least eX-
pense. I'VE are preparing against ar
unknown future which we ought to be
| able to prepared some other way" he
said the evil of preparation Is great
as against the small risk of attack by
other nations, which Is remote.
| Diplomacy and the fact that other
nations are dependent upon us com
mcrcially are two reasons which will
prevent. war in his estimation. His
positive suggestion was that we take
the money that is required to bull6
4 two dreadnaughts. about $4,000, 600
and spread it impartially among the
nations that might threaten us, anC
/ then there would be little inclination
on their part to attack us. Wal
until after the next presidential cleo
many will not be anxious for prepared
ness" It is his belief that the New
| Testament calls for peace and Chris
| tianity demands it. He declared him
self as unalterably opposed to mill,
/ tary training in the schools.