Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-25
PAUSE AND PONDER


A report circulated from, time to
time II that French. German and
British makers OF steel are to COM
bins their facilities into n trust
which may dominate that industry
In the old world II not In the new:
that this will make for peace more
thsn a. score OF leagues OF nations
possibly could do.
\ As yet the report II not verified
neither Is It proved that such an ar
rangement would he a. favorable for
peace az Ia suggested. Nevertheless.
Il requires no new demonstration to
prove that those who arc succeeding
In time Of peace are less inclined
to war than are those who are I'M
successful and desperate in ad-
venture. And this suggests the need
OF maintaining among all peoples
their share in success. How may
business contribute to that end? Is
It possible to accomplish this
through enlightened - selflshness?
Such questions may not be evaded.
The criminal folly OF war under
the present day conditions has
never been moro graphically de-
scribed than by tho Rt. Hon. Wins
ton s. Churchill in a recent article In
Nash's Pail Mall Magazine. entitled:
"shall We Commit Suicide?" 1t Is
not OF a kind to cure the blues" or
relieve apprehension. Rather 1t en-
phastzcs the demand for construc-
tive apprehension and several other
things.
He rstells with narrowing vivid
ness the story of outstanding pos
sibilittes; how war would include
whole peoples. none being immune
from It's terrors. be they women.
children. or the infirm. and tells It
oil cenvincingly. Readers may won
der whether in time Of war people
will dare to ASSEMBLE in groups or
whether each for safety will literally
take to the woods. somewhat after
the manner II their uncivilized an
cestors thousands Of years ago.
Possibly that would be the way
back to barbarism, which man
would take to preserve his existence,
ultinta teiy back to the stone age. II
no should escape slavery at the
kands OF the successful in war.
Mn Churchill prefaces his re-
marks with: THE story of the
human race Is war. Except for brief
and precarious interludes. there has
reves been peace in the world; and
before history began strife was uni
versal and intending"
He describes the steps by which
the arts Of war changed from the
individuals bludgeon to the labora-
tory .of the universe. Not until the
dawn Of the Christian era. he says.
did war really begin ito enter its
Kingdom as the potential destroyer
OF the human race"
He declares: But all that hap
peneii In the four years OF the great
war WAS only prelude to what was
preparing for the NTH wear"
The armistice suddenly brought
those plans. in process Of perfection,
for Aiping out cities and armies. to
a sudden stop. The campaign of
1919 was never fought but its ideas
so marching on" Developments, he
assures us are being made which
will. be inccmparably more formid-
able and fatal" He regards 1t pos
sible: that the agencies which would
be employed in the event of another
war might prove uncontrollab bic,
once begun.
lie finds that: Mankind never has
been; in this position before. With
out baving improved appreciably in
virt,iE or enjoying wiser guidance. It
has got into It's hands for the first
time 1.-THE tools by which It can I'M
failiug,y accomplish its own ex-
Temptation. That is the point in
human destines TO which all the
slories and tolls Of men have at last
led them. They would do well to
pause and ponder upon their new
responsibilities"
In the light Of the awful revelation
Of this futility Of mans ambition II
would seem fitting We should pause
and ponder" with, humble and con-
trite hearts.
There Il now hull because Of the
stupor and exhaustion following the
terrible struggle. but he sees that
the causes Of war have been nowise
removed. Another explosion Is like
~ to come. The progress OF science
In developing agencies Of warfare 10
proceeding remorselessly. Every one
Of these. no matter how horrible,
win be resorted to without COM
! junction once the conflict IL begun,
and he thinks there is every pos
ability OF the people caught UNI
wary being snslaved by the wary
and prepared.
All this Is but an outline Of the