The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1917-09-12
THE GREAT OBJECT-TO END WAR

We must win the war because now
only in that way can justice, order
and righteous peace prevail. But
what is righteous peace and when
may it be obtained? The object of
the war is, above everything else, to
end war. Warfare is terrible and ex-
hausting and it is necessary to stop
the war at the earliest possible mo-
ment consistent with honorable prin-
ciples. Upon this all-important ques-
tion the American Review of Reviews
editorially says:
Those who are now engaged to
the full absorption of all their thought
and energy in these vast military
preparations, having been given their
war tasks at the mandate of the ma
ton, cannot be expected TO be think
ing in terms of the unlocking and
gentle-minded peacemaker. They are
now bound to think in terms of war,
because we went to war only when
we had exhausted peace arguments
and peace appeals. This does not
seem to be time when the nations
are prepared for the definite discus
sion of peace proposals. Nevertheless.
it must be remembered that last win
ter there were only two possible
sources of influential peace activity,
one being the American Presidency
and the other the Roman Catholic
Papacy. For the past five months we
have been numbered among the fight
ing powers; and the Pope is the only
parsonage in the world now remain
ing who has sufficient influence from
the standpoint of neutrality and the
higher interests of humanity, to make
a fresh appeal for peace and to lay
down the principles upon which last
ing reconciliation may be accom-
plished. Those whose duty it is to
push the war cannot be expected at
all times to be ready for the discus
sion of peace. But in countries gov
erned by public opinion the people
themselves ought always to be living
in consciousness of peace aims and
objects. And organs of public opinion
ought to take their part courageously
and without fiinching in all such dis
cussions, with view to shortening
the duration of the war if possible.
When. therefore, peace is discussed
in the German Reichstag, is labored
for by European Socialists, or is urged
by so eminent a neutral as the Pope,
the discussion cannot be wholly side
tracked and might as we'll be taken up
in a straightforward way by the
press, even though the governments
may not find the conditions ripe for
successful negotiation of an official
character.
THE time has arrived when the
question of peace should be consid-
cred openly and frankly. The long
suffering people who make up what
we call the public in Germany, Aus
tria, France and England, have not
hitherto discussed their war prob
lens freely; and the American people
have been placed under such bonds
of self-restraint, and have become so
much the victims of misleading news
from Europe, that they of all peoples
in the world are now perhaps least
well informed about what is going
on. The individuals who through
more or less accidental modes of Sc
lection have come together to form
what the newspapers call official cir
cles,' are playing with vast forces and
powers in ways that commit them to
the prosecution of war with an in
stinctive prejudice against the men
tion of peace. They are participating
in the great game and resent inter-
ruption. Those Just and moderate
counsels that must prevail If peace
is to be made do not find response in
the minds of the war enthusiasts.
The newspapers and the great busi-