The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-08
An Open Letter
Mr.. a Fellow American,
Everywhere-in
L s 4

really these are tunes Wuen we oASuL 20
feel quite>chummy with each other for
we're engaged IN . very serious work to-
gether. OF course mean the war.
IRON, south and North we SALLY forth 20 battle
From Yves, and East tiu war has ceased rs rattle
Till Man Is Man and nor 4 tyrants chattel,
TIL royal rags and pirate flags are furiedi
Tor che safety ~ TIE State,
For America The Great.
Ard The Freedom ~ AL the World
Again maybe / ought to have pardon
coming from you for quoting my own
verses, bur really that's the way feel
about it. Yes. ] know there are few
folk who say this isn't Americas war.
Wen. il isn't our child we didn't give
il birth and we didn. adopt it, but here
il is. We snubbed il, We cut its acquaint-
ance, we denied 1t entrance 70 our home,
but here 1t is To change the smile, for
weeks and months and years, we stood
like old Canute) on our own shores and
we SAID to the sea Of war which was en-
quilting the world, Those aren't Amer-
can war-waves. They belong Co Europe.
We won't lei them beat upon our shores.
We didn't 60 to war. The war came
to us. So. in that sense. il isn't Ameri-
ca war, Just as when a burglar breaks
into your house. he isn't YOUR burglar
but YOU bat him over the head just the
same. You don't say TO him, Il really
think you're in the wrong house. You
ought TO be burgling that house across
the street but since you're here, just
take the silver and children. ard please,
if you must burn the house, leave the ex-
cavation. for I might want to rebuild.
I-know, too, that some people say that
a defensive war is all right, but its fool
ish and wicked to go fighting away over
in Europe That sounded pretty good al
one time | suppose it's every mans
right just to stand on his own front door
step and insist that the burglars 90 by
on the other side of the street. But If
your child is playing across the street or
YOU send him on an errand and the bur
gar knocks him down and steps on his
little face and dares you to send another
ld 70 get i'm his way while he's bur
Cling, then how do YOU feel about it?
Don't you begin to feel that it's about as
safe and sensible TO 60 after the burglar
as to wait for him TO come after you?
Doesn't it Jar the standing-on-the-steps
policy a little bit?
And then there are some people who
say, Well Germany has shown that she
wants peace now. Peace is what we
want, too. Let's make peace Sounds
good doesn't it? But let's 90 back to
our burglar again There he stands on
the other side of the street He has
kicked the body of your-e-ftid aside and
now stands with one foot on the breast /
Of Belgian woman and one on the neck /
Of French baby, and he says, II want
peace" Behind him are the burning
ruins Of violated homes. In his pockets
are the savings of innocent peoples. In
his bloody hands are weapons pointed at
your heart and he says, Il want peace"
In so many words, ne says, Il have ac-
complished my purpose, temporarily, and
| want peace" What do you think about
1t? Shall we say, Go your way, benef-
cent burglar, and when you have recov-
cred from the present unhappy scrap.
when you have spent your loot and re-
gained your breath, come to visit us
again
Ny dear Fellow, somehow | cannot
quite see il that way. Let me confess
to you: no, let me proclaim to you that 7
am a Pacifist, permanent Paciist, but
1t seems 20 me that II Pacifism is 10 sur
vive. We have got to beat and bind this
burglar. When peace comes (and speed
its dayD it must be q permanent peace,
not trumped-up, temporary truce.
You remember old Bill Shakespeare,
don't you? He had il about right. BE
ware the entrance 20 a quarrel, but being
in, so bear IL that thy opponent will be-
ware OF thee For Is months we endured
treachery and insult and assault. We
kept out just as long as we could And
then we didn't so In 70 "avenge our hon
or, or for any other feeling Of foolish
pride. We went In because the time had
come that either autocracy or democracy
had 90 60 out OF business.
For three years the bloody sword Of
Prussianism has waved over the world
proclaimng that might Is right and that
war is good and IS Gods way in the