Middletown transcript., 1917-01-06
A CHRISTIAN PROTEST

w llngS all over the id'iu'
" Mr.. Wilson's shameful cowaroice'
ire clamoring for ''peace at any price
n this awful European War, it is IN
Iced refreshing to read the wise, manly
,rotest of 61 of the foremost represen-
,atives IN nine Of the leading Christian
denominations in the United States
against this iniquitous folly.
This remarkable document alter re-
citing that "the mere stoppage OF war
fare may bring curse instead OF a
blessing:" that "peace is the triumph
Of Righteousness, not the mere sheath
mo of the sword;" that to clamor for
an ending of the present war without
the vindication of truth, JUS
tice and honor, is not to seek peace but
to SOW disaster, concludes with the
following savage indictment of Ger
manv's two years and half OF bar
barism:
eve venture to direct the at
tention of our fellow Christians to
a few of the vital issues which are
making their mute appeal for final
decision.
The ravage of Belgium and the
enslavement of her people; was it
right or wrong?
The massacre Of million Ar
menians: was it permissible pre-
caution or an objectionable crime?
The desolation of Serbia and
Poland; was this regrettable ne
cessity or frightful injustice?
The destruction of life throueh
the sinking Of the Lusitania and OF
other merchant ships; was this an
ordinary incident Of warfare, or
was it deliberate and premeditated
murder?
The starvation of Jews and Sy
rians in the Holy Land; is this an
accident of economics or violation
of the laws of God and man?
The attempt to array Moslems
against Christians in "holy war;
was it laudable act of imperial
statemanship, or was it the treach-
cry of Christian monarch?
The intimidation of small ma
tions and the violation of interna-
tional agreements; are these things
excusable under provocation, or
damnabIe under all circumstances?
In the presence of these pend
ing and as yet unsettled issues, we
feel impelled to warn our brethren
against those who cry "peace,
peace" when there is no peace.
The Just God, who withheld not His
own Son from the cross, would not
look with favor upon people who
put their fear of pain and death,
their dread of suffering and loss,
their concern for comfort and ease,
above the holy claims of righteous
ness and justice and freedom and
mercy and truth. Much as we
mourn the bloodshed in Europe, we
lament even more that supineness
of spirit, that Indifference to spirit
ual values, which would let mere
physical safety take precedence of
loyalty to truth and duty. The
memory of all the saints and
martyrs cries out against such bach-
sliding of mankind. Sad is our lot
if we have forgotten how to die for
holy cause.
We solemnly declare to you our
conviction that the question of all
questions for our immediate consid-
GRAFTON is this: Shall the ancient
Christian inheritance of loyalty to
great and divine ideals be replaced
by consideration of mere expedi-
ency?
This noble declaration of America
leading Churchmen, is scathing
buke to the namby-pamby cowardice
men like Wilson, Carnegie, Jordan a
others "too proud to fight" for flag
country or to avenge the most outrag
principles of justice and mercy.
The action of these churchmen e
courages every patriot who loves
country to believe that the virus of U
patriotic poltroenery SO widely spre
by the presidents words and deeds, b
not yet quite corrupted the fountain
our national honor, but that the "Spi
of '76" still survives in the breasts of
vast majority of our citizens impelli
them not only to fight for their oV
land, but to express their detestati
of Germany's unparalleled war bruta
ties, and to protest the dishonoral
peace that cOndones those brutafiti
and leaves that guilty nation free LAT
to repeat them.
The Historical society of Delawal