The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-07

First Pure. Then Peacetoie.
There arr times when peace Is inn
possible without the denial of the best
things OF life. We are told by the
apostle of love that Christ was mani
, tested TO destroy the works of the
devil. We are told that 'it Is fear
full thing to fall into the hands Of
the living God" for "our God liz a
consuming fire. against sin. The
church is in a continual warfare
against wickedness.
| War is g fearful thing to contem-
plate. The thought of calling our
sons from study and useful abor. to
assemble in camps, to learn how TO
become efficient in the use of weap-
ons to destroy human lives, to send
| them to the battlefield to be manned
or killed or to MAIN and kill others.
such a thought is r'epugnant to the
sensibilities and ideals OF Christian
men and women. Only the positive
conviction that our duty absolutely
demands II can reconcile the Chris
tian conscience to a declaration OF
war with all that inevitably follows
lin its train. And yet as We look back
over the history of the world, begin
ming with the wars of the Old Testa-
ment. We realize that first pure, then
ipeaceable" is Gods own law, and that
lpurity and Righteousness Is necessary
before there can be honorable peace.
And this Is true of nations, as well
AS Of individuals. Does righteousness
lrequire that our country go to war
with Germany? That is the only
question of Importance. Has Ger
many not only SO wrouged us as q
nation that the wrong cannot ba
righted without war. but is she also
a menace to freedom and righteous
ness in the world ? Must we fight
with her. net or 10 secure proper
PREPARATION for cur own WN,ngs. but
also to protect the future freedom of
Jour own and of other nations?
President Wilson In the great mes
sage delivered to congress last Mon
day night summarizes the situation
when he says:
1T is fearful thing to lead this
great peaceful people into war. into
the most terrible and disastrous Of
all wars, civilization itself seeming
to he in the balance But the right
| Is more precious than peace, and we
shall fight for the things which we
have always carried nearest our
lhearts-for democracy, for the right
of those who submit to authority to
have IL voice in their own govern
ment. for the right of liberties OF
small nations. for a universal domin-
ion of right by such concert of
free peoples as shall bring peace and
safety to all nations, and make the
world at last free
| Not only our right to sail vessels
unmolestod on the sea, but the right
to freedom and to peace and safety
as people are imperiied by the tri-
umph of the principles. which are
exemplified by the Hohenzollern gov
eminent. The defeat of the allies
~.
| for the preservation of democratic
principles the president calls the ma
tion to arms
/ Before this reaches our readers.
congress will doubtless have declared
war. While there will be bloodshed
and death and much sorrow in the
homes of many of our people, let
Us as nation pray TO be preserved
/ from hatred and evil passions, and
let us fight not for revenge, bus for
) Righteousness sake.
| The editor cannot bat express the
hope that in calling out men for SER
= wee in tho armJ. the call will not
include any ono less than twenty-onc
years Of age. for auy students at col.
t'-ee or universities. Our youth un-
der w crty-onc ehouid not be rushed
into the ar'av, only iull-grown rer
81 ould be called out. and those who
are III tEe CflGSt OIL preparation TOT
life should not DC interrupted at thai
critical period urleas absolutely nee
essary for tho preservation OF the
country from ilvnsion. II their prop
ar1tio1 Is intercepted now, it win not
/ be possible to resume 1t In many
cases. Lot the yo.lt.. under twenty
one ROMAN at home. and let full
grown men go to The field
And may the Lord Of Hosts be with
US as a people. 70 Bring the war to d
speedy ciose.--Shrist!an Advocate.
A Battle for Liberty.