The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-14
Emerson On War.
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1916. by Frank Crane)

consent conceded to be the foremost
thinker this continent has provided.
When he turned his X-ray mind upon
subject he saw all its vitals. Emile Hap
good has rendered the public a service
by publishing in pamphlet form what he
said about war. choose few sentences
to show the temper of this great mind,
perhaps the sanest and wisest ever
amongst us.
1T is the ignorant and childish part
of mankind that is the fighting part.
Cannot love be, as well as hate?
Would not love answer the same end, or
even better? Cannot peace be, as well
as WARP"
Revolutions go not backward. The
star once risen though only one man In
the hemisphere has yet seen its upper
limb in the horizon, will mount and
mount, until it becomes visible to multi
tudes. And So it is not great matter
how long men refuse to believe the ad-
vent Of peace; war is on its last legs;
and a universal peace is as sure as the
prevalence of civilization over barbar-
ism, of liberal governments over feudal
barons. The question for us is only,
! How soon?"
THAT the project of peace shall ap-
near visionary TO great numbers of SEN
sibe men is very natural. All admit,
they say. that this would be the best
policy if the world were all church. IL
all would agree TO accept this rule. But
! il is absurd for one nation to attempt 1t
alone But we answer. that THERE Is
NO GOOD NOW ENJOYED BY So
CIETY THAT WAS NOT ONCE AS
PROBLEMATICAL AND VISIONARY
AS THIS"
1T is really thought that built all
this portentous war establishment, and
thought shall also melt it away.
AS the idea of cooperating, instead OF
fighting, gains ascendency in mems
minds. il causes the most striking
changes in external things; tents are
struck; mcn-of-war rot ashore; arms
rust; cannon become street posts the
marching regiments q caravan o. emil
grants. peaceful pioneers at the fountains
of the Wabash and the MISSISSIPPI.
Sword and bayonet must first retreat
from their ostentatious prominence; then
quite hide themselves, as the sheriff nal
/ Ter does now. inviting the attendance
only of relatives and friends: and then
lastly are transferred to the museums OF
the curious, as poisoning and torturlng
tools are at this day. i.
"Wil you stick TO your principIe OF
non-resistance when your strong box Is
broken open. when your wife and babies
are insulted and slaughtered In your
sight? If you say yes, you only invite
tie robber and assassin; and lew
! predetermined desperadoes would soon
butcher the good
I'm reply to this charge Of absurdity on
the extreme peace doctrine, as shown In
the supposed consequences, wish 10 say,
that such deductions consider only one
half the fact. They look only at the pas
sive side of the friend of peace, only at
his passivity; they quite omit to consider
his activity. But no man, it may be pre-
sumed, ever embraced the cause OF peace
and philanthropy for the sole end and
satisfaction of being plundered and slain.
A man does not come the length of the
| SDlflL OIL IIldIlyIuDIl "lNhouS oVirS eSS''S
purpose some equal motive, some fam
ing love. If you have nation OF men
who have risen to that height of moral
cultivation that they will not declare war
or carry arms, for they have not so much
madness left in their brains, you have q
nation Of lovers, of benefactors, OF true,
great. and able men. Let me know more
of that nation | shall not find them de-
fenseless. with idle hands swinging at
their sides. shall find them men of love,
honor, and truth; men of immense in
dustry men whose influence is felt to the
end Of the earth; and all forces yield to
their energy and persuasion. Whenever
we see the doctrine of peace embraced by
a nation we may be assured it will not
be one that invites injury; but one, on
the contrary, which has friend in the
bottom Of the heart Of every man, even OF
the violent and the base; one against
which no weapon can prosper; one which
is looked upon as the asylum of the hui
man race, and has the tears and blessing
Of mankind
These are majestic words!
1.-THE cause Of peace is not the cause
of cowardice. If peace is sought to be
defended or preserved for the safety Of