The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-16

is a unity. War with Europe would
have cut asunder the moral forces
that bind the nations and left an age
of darkness, anarchy and despair.
Standing on the immutable founda-
lions of such Americanisna. the school
master and statesman, with consum-
mate skill, skill that commands the
of the world, direct the
forces of civilization, not with arms,
but with reason and moral pressure
against the excuses of a belligerent
world.
With preternatural poise and clear
ness of vision, he is plotting America
through the rushing storm. Whom now
sign in the universe? Who now can
question its fulfillment? VINO now can
close his eyes to the destiny of De-
mocracy to make the principles of civ
ilization dominant, to bring the war
ring nations of the earth together in
lasting peace? The passions of men
die. The truth lives America has
called to Europe; Europe is respond
ing in terms of a revitaliZed ctv1llZa-
ton. The sublimest picture in civil
history is that of a plain American
citizen maneuvering with the weapons
of reason and humanity against the
navies and armies of the contending
nations, and bringing them in accord
with the principles of international
law. The American standard of peace
and justice now floats on the sea 1t.
is unfurling over the trenches of the
struggling nations. From the vantaget
ground of imperishable Americanism-
the matchless craft of a real pacifist
has not only avoided all war, but is.
leading the world into the ways of
peace.
What is peace but the assertion of
moral progress? What is the aSSer-
ton of moral progress but the indie
structible civilization of Europe and
America From the smoulderirg ruins
of a thousand cities, over the graves
of millions of brave men, out of the
blackness of the battle smoke, arising
from the obscurities of national pas
sions. already the peoples OF the
earth recognize the dim outlines,
growing ever more distinct, of the
composite soul of America in the pa
tient and humane wisdom of the
worlds real pacificator. OF what
avail all the wealth of our beloved
land if it had been consumed in the
destructiveness Of war? What avail
the travail of human progress for ten
thousand years had not the school
master and statesman been pacifi-
Gator? His achievement is so vast
that ambitious men are blind to its
reality But the plain millions, of all
creeds and nationahties, recognize in
it the imperishable glories of Chris
tan civilization. 1t glorifies the peas
ant and king alike. The schoolmaster
is statesman, the statesman is finan-
cier, the financier is emancipation.
the emancipator is the pacificator of
the world.
Problem of Peace UnsoIved.
Thus is the nation accomplishing the
destiny of Democracy. The command
ing fact of the modern age is the
spread of intelligence. The school
house has conquered ignorance. The
nTintinO has Transformed the
purposes and capacities of man. Edu-
cation has qualified him for a better
existence. The Bible has made him a
moralist. Men know that the world is
big enough to support the human fam
lily in peace and comfort. Men know
that the great problem of peace and
comfort is not yet solved. They know
that it cannot be solved by the saw
agery of war. They know that its So
luton is obtainable only in conditions
OF peace, reason and a practical NOR
atty. This state of knowledge is the
browning achievement of progress.
The American experiment of self
government has stood the test The
achievements of the American system
are known of all men and felt
States is the worlds asylum. Here all
races, all conditions, all creeds are
assimilated, helped, elevated and men
are made into self-governing men.
LII <AIIlST1Cd Justice mas H1du6 us great
est progress, because it is progress in
which all men have a part. That form
of government which affords the full
est opportunity for happiness and
comfort is destined to be the univer-
sal form. Such is the resistless sy.
logism of progress. War cannot stop
its inevitable march. The opinion of
all men is more potential than the
opinion of one man. The best opinion
of the best men, by the force of ex-
ample and mutually of interest, be-
comes the opinion of all men. Amer
lean opinion is embodied in a man of
peace. American opinion is marching
through the world.
When the Imperilism of Europe cast
the iron dice of destiny, America
threw the moral dice of destiny. Amer
lea staked the principles of her justice.
There they stand in untarnished in
tegrity in the gaze of a stricken world.
The intelligence of men grasp the
meaning of America. Her example
will readjust the relations of men
everywhere. The aspirations of men
are for freedom. Men and women can
and should rule themselves. The day
when they rule themselves war will
disappear. The hand of Divinity has
so written 1t in the needs and neces-
stiles of humanity made in its image.
A Divine Contrast.
America, prosperous, peaceful,
Blessed, is so because the inscrutable
purposes of God intended it. The con-
trast between Europe in flames and
suffering and the United States peace
full and prosperous is the divine con-
trast. By saving the American sys-
tenn civilization is saved. The peace
of America demonstrates the folly of
war. The principles of Democracy
furnish the means of avoiding and
preventing war. 1t. will end in a
worlds league of peace. The unlver-
sal intelligence of men DEGREES that
the war now devastating Europe snail
be the last war.
Sons of America, keep unsullied the
sacred shrine of peace, through
whose portals will yet pass arm in
arm the crowned head and the hum
Bile peasant in silent worship of God.
Out of the ruins and suffering of the
present conflict will arise a temple of
justice whose dome will be the blue
vault of heaven; its i1Iuminants the
eternal stars; its pillars the everlasting
hills; its ornament the woods and
bountiful fields; its music the ripping