Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-08
Woman and War

Woman and War
What is woman's attitude toward
war? is an insistent query in day
when men are fighting for liberty ana
humanity, and when women are de-
handing ar equal share in the admin
! .stratiop of the government. The ques-
ton is adequately and justly answered
hin Olive Schreiner's Woman and War
(Stokes.)
before the outbreak of the present
! conflict opponents Of equal suffrage
were wont to cry: Give women the
ballot and they will vote us into wars
which the men must go out and nght.
Since the war began this cry has shit
ed to: "Give women the ballot and they
will refuse to let us fight. while the en-
envy tramples on our necks." Both as
sertions arise from ignorance OF the
true relation of woman to war-a re-
lation which this essay eloquently de-
picts.
Woman realizes the price Of human
flesh. because it is she who pays 1t.
"she has in all ages produced at enor-
nous cost the primal munition OF
war" This munition she will never be
induced to spend for wars Of aggran-
dizement and power, nor restrained
from offering for the cause OF human
itv and freedom. Give women the bal
lot in one or two countries. anu wars
will continue. where they are fought
against selfishness and tyranny. Give
women the ballot in every country.
/ and wars will pass away.
In the last analysis, woman is the
only safe judge with whom to rest the
! decision Of War or NO War;" For
as Olive Schreiner says, man may
think lightly Of sacrificing human life,
but mo woman who is a woman says
of human body. 1T is nothing"
The women Of the world must not
only end this war by combining Right
and Might, but they must see to it that
it is the end of all war by establishing
the firm of Right and Might as the
! Court Of Human Justice.
DR.. Ernest W. Bysshe Of the Amer
lean Methodist Mission in France. has
| just arrived in this country. Among
the significant utterances of his report,
! DR.. Bysshes words show that he feels
strongly about the attempts Of the
Germans to ruin France completely. He
! says that where the invaders horse has
stepped the grass never grows again.
, The crops Of the country are wholly
| inadequate in any case this year, as
the farmers have all gone into the in
fantry; and the French government is
facing an entire Reorganization of it's
agricultural system. The entrance of
so many refugees from the north, more
over increased the demand for food.
TIE German Sarmy is also attempting
moral degradation of the women of
France, making life much easier for
the complacent woman and essaying by
insidious persecution the corruption Of
the others. But, notwithstanding the
general looseness Of morals in war
time as we'll as the efforts Of the invad-
ers. the moral situation in France, re-
ports DR.. Bysshe, is much better than
one would expect. But altogether the
sad fact remains that France is being
5led white, (as the French phrase
| runs) by the war, and the evident
German plan to so weaken her that
even after victorious war she must
fall into German hands within decade
OF its close, is all too successful.
The hope Of France, according to DR.,
Bysshe, lies in its women. The French
woman has advanced her cause by a
whole generation. Who would have
thought five years ago that women
physicians and civil officials would be
recognized and demanded? Ere long
women, beginning with the fancees and
WIDOWS of the soldiers, will be given
fun admission on equal terms in all the
professions and the civil service. And
OF course. the vote; that will come
earlier than some of the social gains.
Then the French women must teach
their men that they are not playthines,
! but competitors. and after they have
become competitors they may be COM
rades. Woman has her spurs to win,
and will probably have some trouble
doing 1t. But certainly thus far the
French woman has met the crisis
splendidly. Americas women will do
as we'll. Thu world war is woman's
opportunity to overthrow greed, power
lust hate. and the rest of the allies of
seifishness, and enthrone Democracy
and Justice.