Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-17

that, in reality, modern CONSUMPTION
plus war-the selection of the best
men to die before they have given
any children to their stock-is a de-
vice for softening the breed so in
genious that 1t might have been in
vented by the devil himself.
The trouble with Christianity
says Bernard Shaw, is that 1t has
never been tried Probably when
you gentlemen read this. you were
offended. But in this most vital mat
ter of war, Shaw is absolutely right.
For more than a century now-that
century during which man first be-
gan to look rlaked-eyed at certain
world-old human institutions-th
church has closed it's eyes to this
to hide in squirrel holes from the pur-
poses of God. Its co.rse has been
cowardly-I should be cowardly my
self If 1 used softer word for 1t.
1--WE who understand these things
and are not silenced by professional
ethics, like so many soldiers and
sailors who understanding cannot
speak, know perfectly we'll what an
other general war is going to- mean
to this civilization which calls itself
Christian. Just after the late war,
some of us said that it was now
case of nations against nations. not
armies against armies that hence
forth the weakest civilian, man.
woman or child. would be as much
fair game for slaughter as the strong
est soldier. We told you that mod
ern aircraft with modern explosive
bombs, and modern gases could, in
night, destroy all life in any city
in the world. And we told you that
in any future war between civilized
and organized nations. this would
probably be the first tactical move.
Most of the public laughed and calico
us dreamers-then. And now. the
keynote of diplomatic relations be-
tween France and Great Britain is
the fact that France has nearly 300
squadrons of bombing planes to
Britain's so; and that, if it comes to
war; France can and will destroy
London. DO not take this as a slight
on France. In the same circum-
stances. Great Britain would do the
same thing. So would we 1 am
afraid, in case we went to war. If
you doubt this, let me ask you this
question: Had the American people
learned, on any June day in 1918, that
Berlin had been destroyed by air.
craft, would the news have given
America any thrill of horror? You
know we would have hung out every
flag and Illuminated e7'ery public
building. War is so.
1.-THE European peoples with their
petty hatreds and greeds and jealous
les are blindly preparing to commit
suicide; and, we in America stand by.
and a little condescendingly watch
them do it, and thank God that we
are not as other men. And yet the
average American is only three or
four centuries removed from the
parent stock of Europe. Placed in
the same situation he would do eX-
actly the same thing. The fault,
gentlemen, is not with any one man.
or any one group of men. The fault
is Just common human blindness,
common human lax of understand
ing. And the one force in modern
life which can open the eyes of the
world and illuminate their hearts has
hitherto stood by supine!v,, blandly
indifferent.
''Perhaps all I have had to say re-
fers to the past Probably the fact
that you. representi1g three-quarters
of the organized clergy of the United
States, have come together in this
convention and for this purpose, is
the most encoura ging sign of the
times. Pardon me. II I have seemed
to preach to you, whose business is
preaching 1t Is an ab-urd world,
this. Just now; one its minor alb
surdities Is that reporter should be
Obliged to turn preacher"