Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-12
thus reduces the chances Of armed
War Less Probable


From wholly materialistic point
OF view war Ia fast becoming less
probable, because more frightful. AS
science devfses new methods of des-
truction. from the air above to the
depths Of the sea beneath. new gases,
new slaughtering devices. new hor-
rors. even war makers and war pro-
| fiteers will hesitate before again
plunging theSvorld into conflict. They
win not dare play the war games of
old; for their new toys win be vastly
| more destructive than man ever be-
fore dreamed. These discoveries of
themselves are preventatives Of war.
Their very existence serves to make
designing men and aggressive ma
| tions hesitate before risking the
chance OF their own complete ami
hilation. Another conflict well might
result in the determination Of large
portion of the human race. Once
| these forces are put into motion no
man can tell where the end will be.
All the old time chivalry has gone
| from modern warfare. Today war Is
| as sordid as It Is bloody, as cruel as
| 1t In unnecessary.
international Standards
Practical idealists, and I class my
| self as such. do not expect a new
heaven and a new earth. They how
| ever recognize that the same moral
standards that govern the settlement
of disputes between individuals
| should govern the settlement of In
| ternational disputes. They hold that
| the new era can come only through
| gradual and regular processes of bet
| ter International understanding and
| less national selfishness. Premier
Herriot OF France says that inter-
| national affairs must be conducted
with the same regard for honesty
and morality as private affairs"
| With this principle as foundation.
| the pioneer work OF the past that
| aimed to remove the causes OF war
| and promote peace is sure to bear
| fruit in the days to come.
The Churches for Peace
| The power Of the churches is max
ing itself felt in the great Peace
hands with the teachers, form an al
lance that is destined to prove ir-
| resistable, an alliance that ultimately
| must win.
| Preparedness
We hear much about "prepared-
ness" for war, and special days" are
being observed annually to interest
our citizens in building up great
system of national "defense." Those
| accustomed to think in terms of war
| constantly are wcrning us against
the possible attack of hostile forces.
| Many thoughtful people are impress
| ed by such statements and approve
such days. Though differing from
them I In no way question their
motives or patriotism. Still others
whose motives are not as free from
| question and profit from armament,
| play upon the fears of peacefully in
| clined citizens. In my opinion sdch
| special days are likely to cause dis
trust to our motives in the minds of
our neighbors ana principally for
that reason I question the wisdom OF
their observance. When the proper
time arrives I would prefer to see
a general "Dcmoblize ton Day" In
| which all the world would join.
| There are those who conscientious
ly advocate peace through prepared
ness of war. Again do not question
their loyalty or motives. History
| however, as I read 1t, shows that too
| often preparedness has promoted v'cr
| by building up an arrogant spirit:
that soonec or later sought express
| ion through aggressive action.
| Moreover those WHO have derived
great profit through preparedness
| often have been the ones to derive
even greater profit through war.
| "A Self Respecting Peace Program
1 would not have this nation dis.
arm. nor in hte present unsettled
state of the world would leave my
country defenseless. No more would
l have her gwaggcr about with
drawn sword and proclaim herself
| the greatest power on earth.
would train our youth to be self-re-
( liant and would instruct them an the
art of self-defense. I would live
| strictly up to the letter and spirit of
| cur international reduction of arma-
ment treaties, no more, no less, and
would work for further mutual re-
| duction. | would have or country
| remain tolerant in spirit and while
| taking such defensive precautions as
| are reasonably necessary, would not
emphasize or call the attention of
| others to. them. l would cultivate
| spirit of good will and of friendsh
| for other nations. urge the removal
of all points of friction and assume
| no superiority of race or color. All
the while I would pronounce an
anathema against war and a curse
on those who foster 1t by propa-
| ganda, secret or open.
| In a broad sense these are the
principles Of "Paoifist," in the ro-
per sense OF the word, and no loyal
American who believes in them need
he ashamed to oe called by that
i much abused title.
Our Army and Navy
No one more than myself recog-
nizes the splendid services rendered
this country, both in peace and in
war by our Army and Navy. To-
! gether they constitute the strong
right arm of our government, and
i have been and are a force for good
in expressing abforrence of war, l
believe I am voicing the overwhelm-
| ing sentiment of almost every mill
| tary and naval man in this land.
League OF Nations and World Court
The League of Nations is a great
international movement the purpose
! of which Is to bring nations into
closer and more friendly relations
and thus lessen the possibility of
conflict. Although our country has
not yet become an official member,
we are watching it's work with deep
| concern. and when the proper time
! comes can he depended upon to car
| ry our share of the burden. Another
| institution that is destined to render
! great service to humanity is the
| World Court. It will provide a law
! ful and peacnful method fra tho