The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-12-27

PEACE 7 7 7
Professor Robertson

movement for the Christmas season.
Among all her subtle and sinister
plots, that would he the most dan
gcrous for the worlds welfare, a
fitting accompaniment to her hypo-
critical pretcnsc that she has been
forced to fight war Of defense. u
Germany wants peace the rest ul
the world does not. The loss Of Il
mans credit for honesty and truth
| j. bad enough, but the loss of the
credit of nation for honesty AMI
truth is worse, beyond measure
such, however, is the standing Vt
the present government that rules
Il people who deserves better things
As the Christmas season returns
the thoughts Of men naturally dwell
ON the message of peace and good
Will that came to- the world with
the birth Of the Christ child. The
people of our own country, in the
security of our isolated location,
are particularly peace loving peo-
PIE. Only by great effort have We
been reused to enter war. But q
duty has been laid upon us and We
must not for a moment shrink from
il.
The mock-peacc that the German
Emperor is making with the traitor
leaders in Russia Is an uncertain
thing and does not much concern
us. But we must oppose to the limit
a suggestion of peace, from what
ever source, that would end the war
before the time to end has come.
When we stop to think, we realize
that none of the great purposes for
which so much blood has been spill
ed have yet been gained or could BE-
gained by stopping now. Territories
might be restored to what they were
before. even indemnities might be
paid. but this would fall far short
IT what the situation demands. The
deeper evils must bee rooted out.
When the human body is sick there
can be restoration to health only
when the source of the malady Is
found and removed. So it is in the
larger affairs Of state and the world.
The ex-ray of public opinion tells
us with no uncertainty the thing
that is to be done and we must do L..
The surgeons knife cuts deep some
times but it is kindly even though
it causes the blood to flow. The
same Christ, who came with the
angels song of peace, met, in the
maturity of His manhood, the wick
rdncsS of the world and he said He
came not to bring peace but a
sword"
We can gain much of profit from
the experiences Of the past. In the
war of the American Revolution, as
feeble and struggling people We
might have made peace with Great
Britain in i77S. when the war was
only half over; but it would not
have brought with it complete in
nor would it have
united the colonies so closely that
they could go on TO the construction
of so grand and powerful federal
union as we have today. The Civil
War. which rent our own country
in twain, might have been ended in
1863, for its issue was practically
decided then, but that would have
left unsettled the moral issue Of
slavery which lay beneath the cause
of states rights.
II these wars had to continue, how
much more necessary is it that the
present war, greater and more ter
ible by far, should 60 on until the
issues are really settled. We should
nerve ourselves for this and not
yield to any siren voice for peace
until the right is made supreme
over might, until good faith is kept
in the agreements between nations,
until the worth Of a man is recog-
nizcd at value set by Christian
until the rule Of a few
selected persons shall give way to
the rule Of the people, until the
spirit of Christ is established in the
world in institutions and practices
that seek the welfare Of men and do
not, in selnshness, crush some for
the advantage Of others.
Our country has just girded herself
for this task. The cause is so right
cous that none can fail to see it. For
all these years Of peace and quiet
we have been gaining strength for
this day. Laying aside all differ
cnces, ready to make any sacrifices
demanded Of US, let us resolve at
this Christmas time to press on.
Oasis Made to Order.