Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-18

with disdain. Because they did not
want war. they did not want to talk
about It, They thought that not talk
ing about IL was II sort of charm for
preventing II. They called all those who
pointed out the danger of war alarm
lists or propagandiats for the arma-
ment interests. So they scnffcd and
turned the other way while the roots
of war put forth sprouts and prepared
their poisonous blossoms. The only
persons who looked squarely at the
possibility and reci<oned with II were
the ones who rather liked the prospect.
And presently tho war came. and the
reet Of us were roughly awakened from
our dreams of peace and dragged into
II by the hair Of our heads.
who Desires warl
We we're fooled in this way because
we assumed that war la caused by sorne-
ones conscious desire for IL. An autOc-
racy might be thrust into war by the
viii Of It's ruler. an oIigarchY or plutoc-
racy by the viii Of the ruling group
But democratic nation would n~ hight
unlcsa II wanted to. The way for the
United States 10 avoid war was there
fore to cultivate friendly feeling for
al other peoples. And the hcgt way
10 do That was 20 diareRard the points
of friction. 70 declare through thick and
thin that there waa no danger ~ gar.
and 10 discourage armament. For
many years the majority of tn citizens
of the United States followed 'hie policy
It did not prevent war if did not pre-
vent hostile feelings toward other ma
tone. ard IL did not even prevent large
armament. Now Tho miiitanfa and
navaliata are beginning - pine up again
i Rear Admiral Huae calls for \ navy
equal 70 any two" Shall we denor4nce
him and then turn away ~ before
! Those who wish - prevent war in the
! future would Do well - adopt a different
strategy They should not only ~ ~
] harmless as the dove. but alao aa wise
AZ tho aerpent They should make E
their hlainese ~ know more about the
rauHea of war. - know moro about
them IN defans ard fl special cases. and
to doal With fhefn more coIdly ard
/ scientifically than 10 tho mlifariets.
Hnaf n those quoted IN nc paragraph
above are apparently proceeding n ao-
eordance with This po1icy.
Discussion Is valuable.
Good VII IL valuable. much exists nd
NOR should be cultivated Eut war Be-
tveen The United States and C,rca'
Eri'tIn wiil not be prevented ~ TIE
good piIl ~ tho citizens ~ either ma
lfion. w can be as friendly as rc please
for The next fen yeara and sn fhs
eleventh yenr something utay hapDer
hy which one nation viii 20 threater
tho security ~ kne other that most
~ the good win Is tranRnutef int
bitter hasgl!ty on tho other hand, WA
between the two nations VII not b.
brought about b. frank consideration
~ the causes 81 friction. or frank critl
cIarn ~ the policies n either We car
protest az much az we ike about IN
treatment ri Ireland, or Pr!tain couls
protest aa rnuen as ahe liseri about OH
treatment ~ HIATT without causing thi
firing of a single shot. Only 81 cas
such stimuli 70 emotion masked a sub
atan+laf economic interest vy0aHd the
serve the purposes n the war maker
and then they would BE- augmented h.
many other situations ripe FOR the nrac
ticed hand Of the propa gandis+. II !
terrifying n imagine the case hat couI
- r1ade against either nation bv
/. hostile commentator should the oc
: caaion arise.
Once the var situation arrives. &
, srlch a way that there ts no oscar
from its implications n The grea
econornie interests concerned l. vii p
too late fo- goodwill 70 DO is work "
, shall al BE- swept into the rnaelstron
, our plain duty is therefore % begin a
, once. before = fs +oo late The caref1
: analysis and the plain speaking tha
viii be necessary - arrange matters
! | as 20 avoid n collision. What are thes
e men OF authority talking about whe
9 they speak of the danger u wer' IN
: answer viii involve prosaic matters 'ik
? tfslde. shipping 1ll. navy. finance. 81
= With such a hack ground. these matter
= 4aauid - the most interesting IN d
3 world