Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-11
PACIFISTS


77HERE many in America, and all other civilized
lands-no account is taken of the professional agi
tators-wlo are not only greatly distressed by the
present war; for all distressed, but bewildered
Holding the doctrine of pacfsm ssubject to excep
tons they are shocked that this nation should be party
to the struggle The attitude of the members of
this school of thought is not essentially different from
that of preachers passive obedience in England in the
seventeenth century
If this doctrine had prevailed the Stuart despotsm
would have been fastened on England. The today
who believe nonresstance to evil and wrong would
have paid tie ship money that John Hampden refused to
paw would have granted 'benevoence to the king with
out limit and have remained quietly in their homes while
Cromwell and Fairfax were fighting for liberty.
But the brave freemen of the day believed that re
beon to tvrants is obedience God Out of that tur
MOL came the writ of habeas corpus the declaration OF
tights ministerial government and many other great
safeguards of liberty.
The question clearly is not whether is sometimes
iustifiable but whether is
avoidable.
Nothing but war saved, Greece from being by
the Persians.
But for our civil war, this nation would have been
divided and slavery perpetuated
Plainly it will not do to say that is neces
sary.
Had this doctrine been accepted the Turks would to-
day probably be masters of Europe. THERE WOULD
CERTAINLY BE NO DEMOCRACY OR LIBERTY in
THE WORLD NOR ANY HOPE OF EITHER The
greatest and most thrilling chapters of human history
those that tell the heroes who fought and died for free
dom.
HAD THEY BEEN PACIFISTS MANKIND
WOULD STILL BE IN BONDAGE.
q q q
There are few people who hold to the principle of
nonresistance absolutely Even the most determined
pacfst would expect the policeman to his club, if
necessary. to protect him against violence Few men
would allow their property to be taken from them with
out appeal to the courtsand that is resistance to
wrong and spolaton If the act is criminal demand
that the be subjected to forcibe restraint All
that the state force when occasion demands it,
in the protection of the civil and political rights of the
citizen Some of the most determined opposers of war
are the most persistent itgants. NO MAN is EN-
TITLED TO BE A PACIFIST IN THE ABSOLUTE
AND LOGICAL SENSE, UNLESS HE is WILLING
HIMSELF TO SUBMIT OR TO ALLOW HIS FAMILY
TO BE SUBJECTED TO LOSS, OUTRAGE, INSULT
AND EVEN DEATH WITHOUT MAKING ANY
DEFENSE. Unless he accepts that alternative,
he must fight either himself through the police and
courts. When he fights, matter with what weapons,
ceases pacifist Tt is not matter of the right
ness wrongness of any particular WARRIOR that is
another issue What is to be determined is whether it is
ever right to force to repel wrong.
IF THIS is RIGHT FOR INDIVIDUALS, IT is
RIGHT FOR NATIONS. 1t is always deplorable when
such necessity arises Civilized hope that nations
will day, individuals mostly do now settle their
disputes through international courts, but then the
Judgment will ultimately rest force.
But things are, when nation attacks the
Of the world the world must either resist submit
IT'S SUBMISSION WOULD INVOLVE THE CON-
& DOMINO OF CRIME, THE GROWING OF WRONG,
AND THE ENSLAVEMENT OF MANKIND.