The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-30
Through War ia Democracy q
Poets Vision.

VOets NIsuOUs
II there had never been a Wait
Whitman. what would have been
thought of the long poem by LiSc"lS
c'uicoRp called Vision Of War Mac
millansI" The interesting speculation
is. unfortunately. denatured of its at
tractivencss by the insistently obvious
further reflection that II there never
had been a Walt Whitman there nev.r
would have been, in its present form,
A Culcord vision" The poet has
adopted the Whitman vehicle for his
democratic super-ode. and. rather than
attack him for lack of originality, h
critic must accept the choice because
of its fitness. and praise Mr.. Colcord'S
execution a. varying from the use
made Of the style by its inventor prin-
cipally where II actually out-Wh!t-
mans the Whitman model.
The belligerents are modifying:
Behold the niug.ng forward o. nations in
tho wake 81 armies,
The marvellous. massive engines. the enor-
W"u. partpherna'iaf
The powerful mechanical conveyance the
long lines Of them carrying sup
pie,
tn" immense stores OF provisions az M
depot. the sta Ks Of clothing ana
o.acr necessities. the huge piles .:
fodder and grain FOR the horses.
The rar!ng lltIminatI'ns. ihe sweating
gang working beneath them. cease
.essly rece!ving. SORTING. distribut-
The n,.d guns, the heavy artillery. their
pouIrrous steady NOV emon,s through
the st .ssos,
The STOUT wh.s.ci wagon. ful, o: danger.
oIs. costly ammunition,
Tho roaring trains. arriving and depart
ing. SOM" laden vita supplies, SOM
packed with humanity. alive or dead
Tao vas, and systematic commissdrlat. tn,
gr!st of var,
1t Is a civil war ~ the Western
World" As centuries ago the hordes
, Of hlrharianS burst out of the German
for, sts. routcd the Roman legious and
! o,crthrcw a civilization which still
, lives ON -" to-day, along the old
frontiers Of Rome, the battle closes.
Germans invade a German land, Ger
mans defend it," And the poet bids
! himself.
strike a. the root, swing nigh and WIDE
put out every ounce OF strength,
Follow this rotten streak to It's last !ead
Uncover what II means,
Addressing his spirit exalted" he
adjurcs: Come, now, old man, get
down to grips with life and God Ano
while hc is "hghting the fight of truth
with his pen, "A man sn'ers AT him:
saying, where are your woundsc' III,
could no. see my gaping Wounds
My body IS no, yci hroken-but ! hold .
ready.
/ hold my body as fuel and food for tru,
ideas.
| vou'i ho only 70, glad TO Ming my bod,
to a ravening true idea.
Holding that the actual lighting I.
not of the least Importance" that 9TH,
Willingness to he killed Is the only vita
ISSUE the poet proceeds: In peace tn,
sou decays, society is AN artificial
state, changing always; If wars Shout,
rca,o now. men would he the mcancr
and weaker: There are many bite
things To lie done, before the trutl
shall appear" Man is NOT yet worth,
of peace: There IL M hctterment ~
life, except through increase of tn,
spirit. There ~ no human calamity
except through decrease IT the spirit
Peace, as the world has known il, ha
been "ouly meaner war" Nations ar
hut 'multiplications Of the averag,
man"
Come now, old man, We have been blum
ing long enough,
show doWn your hand
II Is easily possible" to do ava,
with private ownership of property
hereditary titles and estates. nation.
patriotism, ~jcalousies; to abolish poy
crty, To make all men love their labo
and live in peace, says the ~"avcrag
, man, speaking of average things L
/, average men,
What of the nations in l9lIc Wa
Belgium theoretically true" in thos
, times Of peace? "Ivory, gold and hu
man greed" Give M profits, to max
Congo savages happier? Not She
/ But I was not thinking so much @