South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-05
Testimony of an EXP acyfst
BY Amelia Josephine Burr.

In July of 1914 was an extreme
pacihst, believing it unchristian un-
der any circumstances to oppose ag-
gression with physical force. (Like
many others 1 did not scruple 10
avail myself of the services of the
police, but the Inconsistency of this
did not occur TO me them. When
the great war broke cot, 1 chung to
my sentiments, though admitting
that in the event Of ny mother be-
ing attacked l would not hesitate 10
defend her with any weapon that
was convenient. IL is so much easier
10 be a martyr in person than by
deputy. L still maintain that such
action would be a reversion from
Christianity TO high class paganism
of the old Testament type, and be-
lieved in disarmament as proven
tive again the nation being over
taken by such backsliding as 1 eX-
pected in my own case. A nation
yielding itself meekly to martyrdom
might be the salvation OF the
world, true. We have yet TO see the
result of Armenia's sacrifice. But
time and thought have made me re-
alize that such exalted harmony of
action would not be possible in a
country of this size and build. even
if il were desirable. While some of
the units might lay down their lives
rather than take up the sword, 9TH
ers would inevitably fight 10 the
death Are those wrong? Are they
unchristian? Among the last words
of Christ were, He that hath no
sword, let him sell his garment and
| buy one" An inspired man has in
terpreted that as meaning, Better
! face the winds of the world NAKED
than not be armed to protect the
weak and the oppressed" That is
the belief which L hold today.
/ do not believe there ere left in
the world any thinking people who
believe that war in itself is good
thing. 1t is undeniably the contrary,
and there are those who agree With
the editor of a New York magazine
that, amy peace is better than a
continuance Of this idiotic butch
cry" Here is another point of view,
| however from a man who has seen
at close quarters on the eastern and
western fronts that very "idiotic
butcherv." and still can say. There
can be nobody in this country who
hates war and desires peace as ear
nestly as those men do. Remember
they are living day by day the
things it sickens YOU 10 read about.
| But they feel that the only posi-
bility of enduring peace for the fu-
ture is 10 night this through 10 a de-
| cision now: and if that fight is 10
cost their lives, they give them free
~ TO establish a better order for
those who shall come after them
They are lighting the last great war
against war" or read-if you have
already done so, read again; it Is
worth remem bering- Dun
SAWS preface 10 his last book
Just how the civilization OF Eu-
rope seems almost TO have ceased
and nothing seems to grow in hel
torn fields but death, yet this is only
for a while and dreams will cOme
back aSain and bloom as OF old, al
the more radiantly for this terrihl,
ploughing. as the flowers Will bloom
iagain where the trenches are ans
the primroses shelter in shell holes
for many seasons when weepint
liberty has come home 10 Flanders
To some OF you in America this ma
seem an unnecessary and wastefu
quarrel. as other peoples quarrel
often are: but IL comes 10 this. tina
though we are all killed shere vii