The New York herald., 1922-04-30
Conditions in Europe Cited
to Show Thin Crust on
Which Peace Walks.
sWAR LESSONS IGNORED
Civilization at Stake Many
Times in Bloody Conflict
and Thus Progresses.
By CHARLES A. PLUMLEY,
President Of Norwich University,
the Military College of Vermont.

y
day Of June next delivered
at Norwich University a COM
mcncement Grafton entitled "The End
OF War Graduating from an es-
sentially military college after four
years of intensive training. was sure
knew what war meant, and how it
might be avoided.
After six months OF strenuous work
spent in study. research and prepara-
ton, I had written what considered
most convincing. thesis against war
and in favor of the submission to ar
bitration Of all war engendering diff
culties which might arise between
States and nations, and with the con-
fdence and assurance Of youth Of
fered this theory as sensible solution
Of the problem and most potent spe-
cific for war. How we'll I remember
the occasion. With what fervor and
enthusiasm / worked myself UP to the
logical conclusion which permitted me
to quote as the last word in argu-
nent that beautiful stanza from Long
fellow:
Peace! No longer from its brazen
portals
The blast of wars great organ
shakes the skies,
But beautiful and sweet as songs Of
the inlmortals
The holy melodies Of love arise"
Certainly this was a consummation
devoutly to be wished. How strongly
it appealed to my youthful imagina-
ton. 1t seems but, yesterday that I
made myself believe that there could
be and would be no more war forever,
and became convinced that all ques-
tions involving war between nations
could be settled judicially and with
out resort to force or arms.
Sinking Of the Maine Killed
''"'Ha His Pacifstic Theories
Thereafter whenever / had oppor-
tunity took occasion to express such
opinion, l regret to say, until there
came day and an event--the 18th of
February. 1898. and the tragedy of the
battleship Maine in Havana harbor-
when saw my beautiful pacifistic,
humanitarian theories knocked higher
than Gilroy's kite; sensed the real
measure of the love which underlies
The veneer of our civilization; saw my
'erished ideals shattered and made
attainable, and realized how made
&c and Intellectual was the specific
had offered for the disease with
h humanity was afflicted. 1t was a
en-. cruel but most effective awak-
j * from my dream. yet / have al
ays been glad that knew enough to
s..e. realize and to admit that l had
cen asleep and in the wrong. learned
my lesson and have never forgotten 1t.
am neither a militarist nor a paci-
fist. ] am an American, and as such,
with every rational and conscientious
person the world over / join in the
wish and the hope that there may
never be another war. I am not so
foolish, however, hope. as to believe
that my hopes will soon be realized or
that my wishes will speedily come
true. 1t is the sheerest nonsense to-
day to talk about world at peace, for
there is no peace.
You may dream of the day when
wars shall cease; 1t does no harm. and
every effort to bring about realiza-
tion Of such dream, so long as 1t does
not strip us of our defenses, develop a
condition OF unpreparedness or lay US
omen to or invite attack, is commend
able and deserves our support, but
say to you that while you dream the
grim reality stares you in the face,
that IL we are to have universal peace
we must be prepared to fight for and
TO maintain it.
Nobody wants war. A pretty broad
statement. but 1 will let 1t stand. AS
a general proposition it is true. "As
civilized people we desire peace, but
the only peace worth having Is OBJ
tanned by instant readiness to fight
when wronged, not by unwillingness
to fight at all. Intelligent foresight In
preparation and known capacity TO
stand we'll in battle are the surest safe
guards against war. america will cease
10 be a great nation whenever her
Young men cease to present energy,
daring and endurance as well as the
wish and the power to fight the ma
tion's foes.
Must Be Able to Stand Up for
Rights, Individual and National
mo citizen OF free state should
wrong any man, but 1t is not enough
merely to refrain from infringing on
-. h.