New-York tribune., 1919-03-10
''Borah a Pagan
Pessimist,'' Says
DIR. van Dyke
Assails Idaho Senator, Who
Declared He Wouldn't Ac.
cept League Proposal if
Ordered To by Saviour

The proposed league of nations was
referred to in many of the city's pull
pits yesterday. The Rev. DR.. Henry
van Dyke, preaching at the Brick Pres
byterian Church, said the league would
bring about that "peace on earth" de-
sired by the followers of Christ every
where, and asked his hearers to choose
between that prospect and the alterna-
tive of further warto follow "melior-
lists such as Roosevelt, Taft and Will
SON. rather than "a pagan pessimist
such as Borah, of Idaho"
Our country has helped gloriously
to achieve victory over the German
robbers,' said DR.. van Dyke. "The
victory has brought great responsible
ity with it, We must determine what
the future of mankind shall be. Shall
this great republic declare for the
German doctrine, for that is what the
opposition to the league of nations
amounts to? 1t is simply the German
creed that war is a necessity
"Shall we enter the league or shall
we stay out and fatten until the next
war overwhelms US without q friend
on earth? The league rests on the
will of God and the desire of men.
The end of this covenant is peace on
earth as far as in us lies, and all
Christians should support it.
Shall we follow pagan pessimist
such as Borah, of Idaho, who said a
few days ago that if Jesus Christ
should come down and direct him to he
would not accept the league of nations?
Or shall we follow the leadership Of
Christian Motorists such as Roosevelt,
Taft and Wilson, who bid us go for-f
ward? 1t is question of religion; a
question of infdelity or faith"
Unless militarism is restrained by
the nations of the world banded to-
gether in a league for peace it will
rise again and master the world, de-
clared DR.. Stephen S. Wise, speaking
before the Free Synagogue in Carnegie
Hall yesterday morning. If such
disaster should transpre, he added, it
would be solely the fault Of America.
Make or Break League
"Tf league of nations is formed it
will be Americas achievement" he
continued. IF there is no league, it
will be because Of Americas folly and
Americas crime We will make or we
will break the league"
DR.. Wise's text was "The League of
Nations Who Oppose 1t and Why"
Answering the interrogatory part Of
the text. he declared the opposition to
the covenant came chiefly from a mill
taristic caste in America, supported by
an "imperialistic element and the mu-
milton makers"
"Do not for moment imagine we
have no imperialists in America" he
warned. 1--WE have them and they are
insistent and insolent. They have
commercial appetite; they think that
making Investments abroad which the
American army and navy are to guar
antee
And there is spirit Of militarism
in America there is such thing as a
military caste. | know it: I have felt
it. America. Of course, never will be
governed by militarism, but we must
not shut our eyes TO the fact that there
is increasing evidence Of militaristic
spirit. This militarism is opposed to
the league"
The only league OF nations Which
could prove effective in preventing fur
ther wars was one which took the
teachings Of Christianity az it's basis,
said the Rev. Herbert Shipman, rector
Of the Church Of the Heavenly Rest,
Forty-hfth Street and Fifth Avenue,
in his sermon yesterday morning The
Rev Mr.. Shipman, until recently, WAS
senior chaplain with the 1st American
Army in France, and his appearance
in the pulpit Of his own church yester-
day was the first in many months.
"Thc only effective league Of nations"
he sad, "would be one based on the
teachings Of Christ. Until all the ma
tons can and do accept the teachings
of the Nazarcnc as the bnsis OF inter
nntjonal jntercourse any league will
merely postpone the time when re-
newcd conflict vii spring UP TO drcnch