South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-12
RABBI LE|bERT
NOT FOR WAR NOW
Opposed to Being an Ally of
the Observation-Disclosures
international Law.

Ny country, right or wrong?"
was the question asked and answer
ed by Rabbi LeiDert. in a sermon
Sunday morning at Temple Bethel,
in which he discussed the present
crisis between this country and Ger
many. outlined the course of con-
duct which he believes America is
bound TO persue in the matter, and
registered a protest against going
TO war at the present time and un-
der the present circumstance. With
the people, the men and the wom-
en-, not the president nor the con-
gress of the United States should
rest the final decision of peace or
war declared the rabbi
We were perfectly justified in sew
ering diplomatic relations with Ger
many" said the speaker. 1T was our
duty to do so because the highest
ethics demands that we protest
against evil and try to prevent it.
In declaring unrestricted submarine
warfare. Germany did wrong, but
we need not go to war with Germany
on account OF this, we can evidence
our disapproval In other ways
But we not only need not 20 to
war; we should not go TO war. The
best argument against war is the
thousands of lives that it will de-
stroy, the homes it will wreck, the
widows and orphans 1t will make,
the speaker said.
Can't See Allies.
In going to war, it was the speak
er's opinion, we would be declaring
ourselves an ally of the entente pow
ers and joining with one ruffian to
whip another ruffian The motives
for which England, France and Ger
many are fighting are no holier than
those which were behind Germany's
declaration of war. They, too. are
fighting for empire. England has
proven il I'm Persia and in her atti-
tude toward Ireland for the last two
centuries. France has proven il in
Morocco. America is compromising
her own ideals If she joins in such
an unholy alliance"
The speaker styled the arguments
for going 10 war based upon the ne
cessity to uphold international law,
to protect our rights on the seas,
and to maintain our honor as ma
ton, as cant.
No International Law.
There is no such thing as inter
national law" he said. 1T is a con-
tradiction in terms, because there
can be no law TO regulate robbery,
murder or pillage: there can be no
law 10 regulate lawlessness, or war,
as international law pretends to do.
IF we say we are fighting for
principle, let us reduce that princi-
pie to its last anlysis," said Rabbi
Leibert, then it Will be found that
we are fighting for a sordid princi-
pie. 1t cannot be for freedom of
the seas, surely. for both sides are
violating our rights and Germany's
violation of them is only one of de-
gree. not of kind. and the only dis
that enters into matter Of
principle is that Of kind. If we go
to war we should declare war
against both the entente allies and
Germany. else we will only be help
ing one rufiian against another and
lighting for sordid principle,
the right 20 supply one ruff
fan with arms 20 use against an
other"
I'm my opinion" said Rabbi Lei
bert in concluding, the greatest
honor that can come to our nation
shall come only when we declare TO
ourselves and TO the whole world
the commandment Thou Shalt Not
Kill and shall make it apply to the
nation as well as to the individual"