The Detroit times., 1916-05-02
American Common Sense.
~ Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

Wllilam Mckinley, President of the
United States, stated in a speech at the
Chicago Auditorium at the close Of the
war with Spain that the American peo-
pie had always shown themselves equal
to the emergency in whatever peril fate
had thrust upon them. and able to adj
just themselves to new conditions and
problems.
At the outbreak Of the European war
the mind Of the whole world was upset.
And In America panic, confusion and hys-
terics had their way, as with all the rest
|of the world. But, as stanch ship
struck by hurricane tips and welters 1t
first but soon rights itself, so American
public opinion is getting back to steadi-
ness, and Is coming around to common
sense and intelligent foresight
Our first impulse was to rush to arms,
to fall in with the ancient folly of the
world and protect ourselves by the same
kind Of preparedness Europe had adopt
led.
There are already signs that we are
recovering from this panic. We are
grasping the great truth that interna-
tional federation of some sort is the only
possible way to prevent a recurrence Of
such world calamity as the present one.
Just recently the World Alliance Of
Churches met at Garden City, Long Is
land, where DR.. Remensnyder declared:
THE new internationalism must b
willing to resort to tribunal of arbitra-
ton. It's aim and ambition must be q
world court for the adjustment Of
world disputes. The purpose of this con-
ference is to bring the churches together
to work toward making war impossible
hereafter"
President Faunce Of Brown university
said: I'VE shall never overcome militar-
ism by practicing it ourselves"
1t was certainly high time the Chris
tian Churches were doing something to
clear themselves from the charge of par
ticpating in the barbarism and diabol-
ism of the war program. If Christianity
does not mean world government it
means nothing at ALL And if it is con-
sistent with the kind of patriotism that
leads whole populations to slaughter over
issues they do not understand, it is
mania we were well rid Of.
The Chamber of Commerce at meet
ing in New York passed this significant
resolution:
Whereas. Under the leadership of
George Washington and others, thirteen
hostile, quarrellng, and jealous states
were, in 17S7-1789. brought into such re-
lations, through federation under writ
ten constitution, that war between these
states and thirty-fve other states since
joined with them under that constitution
is now not only impossible, bet unthink-
able: therefore, be it
Resolved. That the Government Of the
United States should indicate immediate
| ly that this country is prepared to meet
the representatives of all the democratic
nations of the world in convention the
purpose of which shall be to extend the
ideals expressed in Philadelphia in 1887,
and thus promote the solidarity and the
peace of the whole civilized world
This is the sort of campaign we need.
Take notice, gentlemen Of congress; take
notice, President Wilson; take notice, Re-
publican and Democratic conventions,
this is the American idea, the American
kind of preparedness, and the political
leaders who advocate this and the mag
azines and newspapers that stand for this
will receive the overwhelming support Of
the great American common people for
they may be depended upon to show
Themselves equal to the emergency IN
whatever perils fate may thrust upon
them"