Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-05
The Broken S1Oord at Essen

~ between the severed halves; and be-
meath, the legend: "Die Waffen Me
der!"-Down With Arms!
Seven years ago such an emblem would
not have been tolerated in Germany, If in
deed it's sentiment could have mustered
enough followers to have rippled public at
tention Now it is borne aloft in a great
hall in the city of Essen, that one-time
stronghold of the Krupps and gigantic work.
shop of Mars Gathered in the hall is COM
pany of men and women from all parts OF
the republic, organized for preserving and
promoting peace-this is the land whose
symbol was but recently Mailed Fist!
A French journalist, reporting the con-
vention for the Paris OEUVRE, tells of the
two thousand assembled delegates as hay
ing set themselves the task, difficult as it
is of changing the mentality Of a people,
and of bringing them back to the humane
traditions which were formerly the + honor"
Significantly enough, this observer from
France, instinct with his country's keen
patriotism, writes Of the undertaking both
admiringly and hopefully. The German peace
workers, he thinks, mean business 1.-THE
radicals amongst them declared that the
army of one hundred thousand men which
remains in Germany was a useless and dan
gerous luxury; that the money it cost would
be better used for social services; that the
police could keep order, and that the re-
public would thus get rid of the last refuge
of militarism.' But this idea was vigorously
contested on the ground that disarmament
of the Reichswehr at this time would leave
the countrys internal peace prey to dis
order and strife, the end of which might we'll
prove disastrous. There was general opposl-
ton, however, to the reported purpose of the
reactionaries to move for the re-establish-
ment of that compulsory military service on
which the Hohenzollern armies were
founded.
Is not this pacific endeavor, in the heart
of what was lately militarisms very citadel,
peculiarly interesting as the world confer
ence on ornaments draws near? The Ger
man people have poignantly practical reasons
to turn forever from the counsel of Blood
and Iron" None ever followed it more zeal
ously, more methodically; and none did 1t
ever bring to sadder and sorrier ends. But
wherein will other nations have prohted
from the lesson of that defeat and disgrace
if they go on building in strenuous compe-
tition the battle engines which certainly do
not persuade to peace and which Weli-nlgh
inevitably provoke to war at last? Militarism
is militarsm, whether it be fostered by one
adventurous monarchy or INDUCED by peace
able republics as matter of Wltless con-
vention Having broken the Pruss1an sword
which threatened to enslave them, the free
peoples of the world assuredly can do better
than to use it against one another. No cost
was too great no exertion too stressful no
sacrifice too bitter when demanded for
Prussanisms defeat. But how strange, when
that has been accomplished and the city of
the Krupps flaunts new ensign, Down
With Arms'-how strange and grievOus for
the friends of freedom themselves to bear
crushing tax burdens and invite new wars
by continuing vast armament construction!
1t is not proposal of Missionaries that the
forthcoming international conference at
Washington will consider, but proposal of
business minded thinkers who see that there
Of he oith of ami n n
another world catastrophe and world bank
ruptcy. That the American people expect
their spokesman to take the constructive and
the saving side, is not to be doubted; for
while their tax burdens are far lighter than
Europes they are all too heavy when ninety
cents out of the dollar goes for war debts
and war preparations. movement to
check these enormous expenditures for de-
struction must be concerted if it is to be ef-
fective In the nature of the case one coun-
try will not be disposed to shorten its sword
if others continue to 1engthen theirs. But
when the process is general there can be no
disadvantage for any, and no objection that
will stand moral scruti ny.