The Denver Jewish news., 1924-09-25

teth OF lllllc moment tncn-lu WuFln
SET for war. II may be fatally decisive
today In world more or less haltlng-
ly and indcclsivcly struggling toward
peace Defense Test Day, / repeat, is
n moral and spiritual catnstrOpc, alike
IN its effect upon the nations and in
the quictus II is bound to give TO that
great body on American opinion, which
runs that war has had Its last trial,
that 1t settles little If anything and un-
settles much, that 1t is no less rulnous
to Nictors than vanquished, that there
is another and better way, which has
glory of that better way Defense Test
glor yof that better way Defense Test
Day is sure to postpone.
Defense Test Day! Against whom
against what enemy or enemies-hay-
ing In mind that an ostentatiOus and
unprovoked defense is provocative and
offending! Not against Canada or
Mexico! Our peace with Canada has
run for more than century and may
he said to be secure. McXicO-it is
since we committed the crime Of spolla-
ton against Mexico, never more to be
renewed despite the journalistic war
mOngers, yellow in more senses than
one as far as Mexico is concerned. As
for the Central and South American
republics. we shall not abandon the
rcll Of big brother nor war upon them
we have morally convenanted to safe
guard.
Defense, against whom? Not
Not against our late Allies and asso-
ciatcs in the war of liberation, Britain
and France. That were unthinkable
Not against cur late f"es, Germany and
Austria, for these have become poHe--
less in Il military sense. and we are
hend upon their rehabilitation in or
der that they may live and not uron
arming ourselves anew against then:
that they may utterly perish Is II
against Japan? But a Defense Test
Day, Wis Wis Japan is.rOt so much Il
gesture of war as token OF attempt
cd tcr:0rzliion the GIn-wavip- OF tie
rowdy and bully II | were 4 Christ
i'm. AS | ara n jew, II | wer, fur cX-
ample the head of the Federal Council
of the Churches of Christ in America,
instead Of being the Rabbi of the Cen.
ira. and Free EynagncS, | would urge
us substitute for Defense Test Day
the appointment of an American cCm-
miss ion. which should meet with duly
accredited commission from Jrpun, in
order TO discuss the recent exclusion
legislation directed against Japan, with
a view TO securing in unoffendlng and
gentlcmanly fashion, despite some Pa
cilic coast demagogues, Gn agreement
between our country and Japan in ne
spcct of immigration and Of all other
matters at issue between our countries
that should he mutually and perma-
Ecntly binding
There is one further consideration,
which makes it impossible for me to
give my approval to Mobilization or
Defense Test Day, think of Americans
sons, who lie buried in the fields of
France. With these we made a solemn
cOvcnant-namcly, to use our power as
a nation in every possible way to end
war not merely nor chiefly to end and
win the war. That covenant has not
been kept
whether because of partisan cupid
| ity or of senatorial malignity or of un-
visiOning and undarlng Qack Of
craftsmanship or of the wearness and
temporary unbelicf of our people.
America has not done what America
the world. Mobilization Day will take
MS still farther from the possibility of
rcdccming our obligations to our hon
Urcd dead and to the European mill
lions. who at the end warred on and
multiplied their sacrifices because of
their faith in our unchallenged pro-
"iam 10 end war and make the world
safe for the processes Of ordered and
peaceable fellowship Throughout tie
world
You, Sir, are under orders of the
government, in the military arm of
which you serve. | am not under or
ders, for l am free citizen of our
national commonwealth. Inter arma
silent leges; when war comes, as we
have lately had occasion to see, opn-
ions, alas, are stincd and dissent from
government decisions is sternly, even
vindictively pushed | must, as free
man and as churchman, avail myself
Of the right to express my unreserved
condemnation Of the attitude of our
government, which is eliminating in
Defense Test Day. This attitude is un-
worthy of the traditions and ideals of
our country. II ministers to and in
.Et l..