The Washington herald., 1918-02-26
Apologia Pro BeHum.

Ap0l0ga rr0 DeHum.
A broken, mourning world, viewing the as
mans greatest tragedy since the Crucihxion, is
losth to think of any good in it.
Nevertheless there is good in it, rising in strange
spiritual overtones from the roar of the charnel
house 1t has restored human values to higher
place than they have occupied at any time since
industrialism placed its hallmark modern civili
cation.
II has tested the human heart and found it
sound. 1t Mas ripped off most OF the frpperies and
follies on which the world set such store few
years ago. 1t has given conception of
the futiy of luxury 1t has leveled pride of rank,
pride Of CASTE pride of wealth, and given humility
the status that the Scriptures assigned it
For the American people, not yet subdued to
the true tragedy of it, still soul-truant to its
deeper heroims, the is proving mighty train
ing in moral obligation. The nation is faced with
"musts" which run counter to its characteristic
national spirit
We are wasteful by instinct by tradition; the
war says, you must not waste"
We are prodigal and spendthrift because we
think we show true face of generosity thereby;
the war says, you not be prodigal and spend
thrift"
We are used to having what we want when we
want it; the war says, "You can't have it"
These things are imperative staring out at US
thoughtless and the willful are being made aware
of the fact. The moral effect of this training is
tremendous. 1t is making a nation out of the
United States. 1t is remolding the national spirit
1t is restoring the old-fashioncd Puritan virtues
When Americans can be shown how contempt
bic thing is the waster, the spender, the
idler fattening and battening money which the
lottery wheel OF business gives him, they can thank
from the bottom OF their hearts the instrument
=. IL
is going to cost them OF their best blood, and
be the author OF "aIl our woe"
Ii it can make us intoerant of all the smaller
and the potter vices-he national impulse towards
SHOW" towards flourish flash and luxury towards
nIechanicalizing and farming out" all the routine
and yet fundamental clements in the business OF
living-thcn it is not in vain. Ii it make
fashion unrashionablc, and make not set too
great store by the worlds goods, then 1t is not in
vain.
\ few years ago "irugality" one OF the most
unpopular words in Webster for Americans. Even
ECONOMY" was frowncd upon in the best circles"
Even today we cannot roll these words easily off
Dur tongues; VIC have to have subterfuge-"con-
servation," as VIC call it. However. conservation
will do We learning.
This winter of our discomfort will be OF great
significance in American history. We are retrench-
ing all along the line. A year ago the people took
up sacrifice almost as they would toy or a
new lad; they know, partly at least, what
grim thing it IS and actually beginning to take
great pride in the fact that they have been granted
share in the worlds lot OF tragedy and bitterness
and self-denial
We no longer boast of wealth We think
Of it only as a tower OF strength to the common
cause We anxious not to hold it for ourselves,
but to contribute it to the salvaging of the wreck
that is civilization today. We are beginning to see
what tragedy it would be if our own country
should emerge from the rich and prosperous
and prodigaI, while all the rest of the world was
pocr spent and broken but schooled in hero
isms Of the spirit; and determined that this
shall not happen. We determined to share in
all the wars burden and in all its dividends, be
what they may.
This is what the war far has done for US.
The evil that it docs may be buried with it, but the
good, let US hope, has come to stay.