Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-22
CIVILIZATION AT THE CROSS
ROADS.

Is II not true that civ alton has
come to the crossroads? Under the
generous permission of The Argus to
publish In this space whatever
choose, / have some installments to
follow which | consider of the greatest
worth. On the general subject Of mil
itarism as It is today being pressed
upon the country for consideration by
those who would head our civilization
not along the straight course 1t has
hitherto pursued in peace and pros
perity, but into that troubled way
which Europe has followed into the
depths of the monstrous tragedy Of the
ages which Is now enacting, 1t is my
purpose to present here some thoughts
which, II seems to me, should appeal
to the Christian men and women OF
America. These thoughts were en-
bodied in remarkable address to the
Union Ministers association, Chicago
by Rev. Martin d. Hardin. d. D., pas
tor of the Third Presbyterian church
Of that city, and I feel that every
man who shall follow them will be the
better. In eloquence, in comprehen,
siveness, in true patriotism, in Chris
tian sentiment, In practical sense, in
every aspect of enlightened devotion
to the high cause OF humanity, this
address stands out as a real contribu.
ton to the literature of a momentouf
issue upon the sane solution Of which
the perpetuity Of our free institutions
Idenpends. 1t is reproduced in this
space as something that is worth
while and that is an inspiration In
itself. The address Is as follows:
Across the last page of European
civilization is written in letters Of
blood the tragic word "Failure." Re-
ligfon, PHILOSOPHY, science, art, edu-
cation, commerce, and craftsmanship
all the constructive forces of civ
ilfzation, as they have been-are
weighed In the balance and found
wanting. The religion of the wise and
mercfful Christ, except in name only
is largely abandoned for the worship
of the Moloch Of might. Into the red
hot, outstretched, iron hands Of this
hideous heather deity Europe's chill
dren are being offered up-offered
with blind devotion and unquestion-
ing stupidity equal to that Of
the most benighted Cannanitish
woman of 80 centuries ago. Ideals
and ideas, morals and money, homes
and churches, vast and beautiful cit
les, priceless treasures Of art, man
hood, womanhood, youth, and maiden
hood, and, most unthinkable of all
poor, innocent, helpless childhood
all that the heart has loved and the
Christian conscience has been taught
to revere-is being fed to this blind
insatiate monster which with flaming
appetite devours and stands calling
week after week and month after
month for more. more, more!
The cultured and, in many respects
increasingly fraternal Europe of yes
terday has slipped back into the jungle
to Initiate the actions of the tiger, and
knowing no law higher than that OF
tooth and claw.
Men who have thought in their
boosted modern wisdom that there Is
no hell awaiting the sin of man
against God awake to find that the fair
Europe Of yesterday Is actually now
in veritable weltering hell of blood
and tears, wailings and meanings. in
sanity and hatreds, demoniacal, love-
less brutality as awful as any vision
ever haunting the weird imagination
of Dante.
The beautiful, art-crowned, garden
cultivated, happy-homed, marvellous
ly cited, increasingly restful Europe
of yesterday is gone from the face OF
the earth, and, for all the men, wo-
men and children Of this generation,
gone forever. With it have vanished
millions of long cherished hopes and
golden dreams-the lovers ieweled
anticipations, the old mans staff, the
fathers pride, the toiling, patient
mothers comfort and recompense. Ia
every fireside there is appointed not
beauty for ashes, but ashes for
beauty; not the oil of gladness for
mourning, but mourning for the oil
Of gladness; not the garment of praise
for heaviness, but heaviness for the
garment Of praise: Yes, the heavi.
ness of the destruction of millions of
the strongest, bravest, and likelien
makers of tomorrow's happiness and
greatness; and, added to all this, the
heaviness of such a war debt that
Europe's peasantry, already bowed
and bent. shall, like the Christ. stag
ger and fall fainting to the earth under
the weight Of the very cross upon
which they and their children's chill
dren for a century to come are to be
crucifed.
The mind not moved by this infinite
tragedy to seek something radically
different in the way OF national and