Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-24
MRsFEuTONS TALKS
CONDUCTED BY
HeaS WIZ FELTON,
WAR AND THE NATIONS DECAY

WAR AND THE NATIONS DECAY
Some years ago DR.. Jordan, then
president of Mrs. Leland Stanfords
university, published a notable ar
ticle, which was sent out in PAM
let form on '"The Decay of the Races
Through the Survival of the Unht,
and [ have some remembrance OF MS
line of argument There was no
great war in progress. Our natloh
was in apparent peace with the world
He argued that Greece and Rome
went down under the ravages of war,
inflicted on Greeks and Romans
that the mammoth kingdom OF
Charles V disintegrated because OF
the incapacity of his successors.
There came along a succession Oh
weaker and inferior men. The
stronger and better men set the pace,
but luxury and power begot weak
lings. He declared or predicted that
England was at that time gong
downward as a result of inefficiency
in her leadership. He said wars took
out the best elements-the funda-
mentals from national life.
He ventured to say that signs and
symptoms gave evidence of similar
retrogression and civic decay in our
own country There is quite enough
in his argument to arrest thought.
At that period of our peaceful his
tory we're were no strikes worth the
mention, as at present. Bomb
throwers were a scarce article in this
country. We had weathered the Civil
- wit h
peace there was an influx of pros
perity. But those who lived before
and during and after the Civil war
are painfully aware that there had been
a loss sustained--a sense of personal
honor and civic pride based upon
ideals of brotherly kindness that
seemed to have taken fight, or at
least were not in evidence.
Money became more powerful than
character.
And money was the ruling force in
our. legislation when President Jor-
dan published his pamphlet.
Greece went down first because
tributary to Rome. Rome, enfeebled
by luxury, was ravaged by wild
clans-rude invaders from the north.
The survivors in Rome did not again
occupy the places Of their forbears.
They could not overcome these. in
vaders nor regain the high ideals
that were propelling their ancestors
of progress and success.
Wherever a system of militarism
gains in country on either continent
it is. always antagonistic to the arts
of peace. Although a kingdom or
nation may enlarge it's borders by
the sword, the effect on the popu-
lation becomes detrimental. There
can never be written a more force
full paragraph than righteousness
exalteth a nation"
Militarism is never in close al
lance with righteousness. Might
makes right, when military disputes
are settled.
Nations only progress in righteous
ness during times of peace. In mill
tary circles might makes right. Brute
force is the compelling authority.
Perhaps wars will never cease.
Some of our leading statesmen SO
declare. A defense of native land
and of the home is a manifest and
compelling duty for humankind.
These ideas were exploited in our
war with Mexico, also with Cuba
and the Philippines, but not one can
ever be regarded as a defensive war
To the clear vision of real patriotism
not one of them could be classed
with defensive wars.
Perhaps no clearer illustration of
President David Starr Jordan's the
Dry could have been supplied than
when the United States took over
the Philippines, which had been
struggling to free themselves from
the autocracy of Spain.
1t was very costly enterprise foy
| us.
According to the lights before us
there is trouble brewing over there
now. Japan proposes to enlarge her
borders. She has pressed down Ko-
rea to absolute serfdom. Her dis
position toward China is manifestly
| aggressive.
The Philippines are many thousand
miles distant. To have and to hold
the Philippines will require a strong
army and big navy. The surviva.
of the unfit may complicate all our
alliances with other kingdoms and
| nations F.