The Penn's Grove record., 1916-03-31
FRIENDS STRONG AGAINST
PREPAREDNESS

A Memorial to the Members of the
Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of Amer
lea from the Religious Society of
Friends of Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, Delaware and Parts of Mary
land
In view of the present agitation and
Propaganda for a large increase in the
military and naval strength of our
country, the Society of Friends,
through its Representative Body, re-
spectfully presents to you the follow
ing memorial.
From its inception this Society has
believed that all war is unrighteous
and that military service is contrary
to the teaching and the life of Christ;
that it is the duty of nations as it is
of individuals to practice Christianity
by basing their actions on justice,
good will and love, which alone can
heal the social and economic diseases
of mankind. In maintaining this faith
many Friends in the past have suf-
fered Imprisonment, loss of property,
sickness and death, and, we believe,
many today would not shrink from
1t is not, therefore, a lack of courage,
or an easy security that prompts our
appeal, but rather a patriotism that
includes the welfare of all the nations
of mankind, and an abiding faith in
the ultimate victory of human broth
erhood. We are willing to sacrifice
more than war would call for in the
interests of peace.
Basing our plea on this broad Chris
tian ground, WI would briefly state
some other considerations against
committing our country to a policy of
military expansion.
1. Advocates of preparedness"
urge national defense as the only JUS
tifcation for their program. Aggres-
sive warfare by the United States is
inconceivable, unless the temper of
the people is changed by the existence
of greater ornaments.
1t is our conviction that
(a) We are already defended geo.
graphically by two oceans, by an I'M
fortified northern Boundary of three
thousand miles that has proved a sure
guarantee of peace for a century, and
by a southern frontier where self
restraint and magnanimous patience
have maintained peace in the face of
extreme ~provocation.
CD The citizens of the United
States are a composite people of many
racial strains. We are connected so
intimately by ties of blood and sym
pathy with all the nations of the old
world that public opinion would make
a war with any of the great powers
practically impossible. These inter-
national bonds are a pledge of on
tinued friendship and good will.
(c) The terrible war now in pro-
gress is eXhausting the strength of
the combatants. The inconceivable
wreckage and waste of life, treasure,
industry, commerce and intellectual
and moral force are reducing all the
great European powers to a condition
from which they cannot soon recover
This is a fact and not a superstition.
Japan, the only other power mention
ed as a possible antagonist, has shown
a consistent desire to maintain friend
ly relations with our country, and is
already heavily burdened by taxes and
an overwhelming wal debt.
2. A policy of military expansion
on a grand scale will commit the I'm
tied States to militarism.
True democracy and militarism are
contradictory. The one mus destroy
the other.
1t is almost impossible to arrest a
militaristic policy when once it is
launched. Fear is added to fear, false