New Britain herald., 1917-04-14
WHAT THE PAoIFgsr DOES.
His Smooth Fat Hand Brings
Much Destruction, as the
Mailed Fist.

To the Editor Of the Herald: hi
have observed this war at short
range, having lodged shells upon the
European front and having visited the
camps, mundtion works and hospitals
of England and France. I have seen
the wounded and the dead, the widows
and orphans, and the ruins not only
OF buildings but Of broad fields which.
can never again be tilled;-none OF
the pomp ad circumstance of war but
all of its horror.
T Again and again 1 have heard the
remark. eff England had only listened
to Lord Roberts! If we had only
been ready this would never have ham
pe1ed!" g
quickly became convinced thAt
what saw was no more the result
OF war than 1t was the result of the
pacifist. Noble buildings which .wers
the work OF the Imagination Of the
ancient artist are now in a condition
which may truly be said~to be the
work of the lack of imagination Of
the modern pacifist. His smooth fat
hand has wrought as much destrue-
ton as the mailed fist of the kaiser.
Since returning from battle SCARED
Europe, Ghave travelled our own land
from Ndehf to South and from East
to West. Everywhere I find prosper.
ity. but there is lacking that presence
Of a national soul (Which may be
nothing but the sense of a common
unsethsh purpose> which pervaded my
days and nights in Europe. It lies in
the power Of our congress, TO. give our
people that feeling Of q common
cause which alone will give u.s.
strength, which will bind the rich to-
the poor and the poor to the rich andn
make each one OF us feel and know
that we have truly great county not
because Of its resources but BECAUSE
of its ideals and because we have the
strength to make those ideals. some.
thing more than idle dreams
We only value that which has cost
US something. Let every young man
give but his little share Of time and
work to the United States and he will
become a true patriot. The plan pros
posed is SO simple, SO small in cost
and SO immeasurably great in value
that 1t should not be necessary for e.
single man to raise his voice in its
favor. Even II no emergency were
now apparent. universal training
should be adopted without delay TORS
to our people, and even II we could 500 Z
in it no such spiritual benefit n should
be adopted I'd straighten the backs
and I'LL out the chests Of our slouch.
ing, boys and to teach them the first
principles Of hygiene.
There can be but little doubt that
our congressman are individually In
favor Of this measure. but perhaps
they are not sure OF the attitude to-
wards 1t of those whom they repre-
sent. In this case 1t may be suggest
ed to them that they visualize the
supporters and the opponent of unf-f
versal service. In one rank are seen
those whose faces are bright with
knowledge and ennobled by the desire
to serve. In the opposing ranks are
the unenEghtened, those who have
never felt the. thrill Of q common
cause and who have no sympathy
either above or. below themselves In
the social scale.
Shall we permit this fair land to
fall an easy prey to the wild beasts
which have devoured Belgium and
harried all OF Western Europe? In
later years shall one of us say to an
other That ruined church shows the
hand OF Willard crippled man
makes me think Of Pinchot"? Save
US from the work Of these architects
Of destruction, you our represents.
tives.
Yours truly,
THOMAS ROBINS. u
(Secretary, Naval Consulting Board.l