New-York tribune., 1920-07-13

Why it Need Not Include Senti-
mentality Toward Germany

| O'-S'
mentality Toward Germany
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I wish to say, with all the defer
ence that seems to be demanded, that
such letters as that Of Lydia E. Milling
ton, in your issue of July 0, 1920, are
calculated to give most persons a pain
in what Pitti-Sing refers to as the
cervical vertebrm.
One Of my old teachers, the late Dr.
Charles Garman, once wrote as follows:
Critics have noticed three stages in the
development Of human civilization.
First: The let-alone policy; every man
to look out for number one. This is the
ago of self1shness. Second: The op-
posite pole of thinking; every man to. do
somebody else's work for him. This is
the dry rot of sentimentality that feeds
tramps and enacts poor laws such as
excite the indignation of Herbert
Spencer. But the third stage is repre-
sented by our formula: Every man must
render and receive the best possible
service, except in the case of inequality,
and there the strong must help the
weak to help themselves; only on this
condition is help given. This is the
true Interpretation Of the life of Christ.
On the first basis He would have re-
mained in heaven and let the earth take
care Of itself. On the second basis He
would have come to earth with His hands
full of gold and silver treasures, salts
flying every want that unfortunate hu-
manity could have devised. But on the
third basis He comes to earth in the
form of servant who is at the same
time master, commanding His dsci-
Piles to take up their cross and follow
Him. He refuses to make the
world wealthy, but He offers to help
men make themselves wealthy with
true riches which shall be a hundred
fold more, even in this life, than that
which was offered them by any former
system"
Some of us tire, at times, of hearing
the real spirit of Christ misrepresented
by persons who have never progressed
beyond the second basis described by
DR.. Garman. And we especially tire of
hearing it misrepresented so glibly in
connection with the German nation of
to-day.
| wish further simply the space to
quote this poem, which appeared some
time ago in "The New York Evening
Sun" over the name of "Mary" I regret
that I cannot give more definite credit):
GERMANY ASKS FOR FOOD
Now they come to US and cry
"Give us food, or we shall die!
Out Of your abundance give
That our little ones may live!"
With whining beggar's plea,
For the sake of charity!"
Children of the ravaged lands,
Shall we fill the German hands?
Shall we cut your bread in two,
Feeding those who tortured you?
But the children only moan
In piteous monotone:
".Son1e of as arc munb Nth frioht,
Some of as are mad,
Some of as aoere killed outright
Those mag aUeU be glad."
Ask that other little band,
Babies of our own dear land
Trapped and drowned like rats, while
they
Gave their children holiday;
Listen close, for it is far
TO the places where they are!
"Therc is aUuter eueru1uhere.
Salt and bitter, too,
Chohing out the kindly air;
Can zoe ans,uer you?"
Christ, the King of Mercy, speak
Must we grant them what they seek?
Must we break the children's bread.
casting it to dogs instead?
Wouldst Thou not be pitiless
Fast the thought of man to guess
Thou who saidest, "Who offends
One Of these, my little friends.
IL were better he should drown.
With stone to keep his down.?
Those who are constantly invoking
the spirit of Christ, ought to familiarize
themselves with that spirit sufficiently
tc know that Christ believed in God of
justice, with whose workings in the
world not all the Millingtons can inter-
fere. GEORGE 8 RRYAN
Brookfield Center, Conn.,, July 8. 1920.