New Britain herald., 1927-05-17

it in America today, nine years after the Armistice. but any traveller in Europe with his eyes and ears open, will See every day the ruins of pro- perty and humanity. which modern warfare makes possible. War Must Be Outlawed
 "One thing stands out very clear ly from the sorry mess of this last war and the subsequent peace. Un- less you and I and the rest of man. kind find way to put down war. to prevent war, to outlaw war. then one day a war will come that will wipe out humanity. belligerents and non -cambatants and stay-at- homes alike. Unless We find way to fin- ish with war. war will finish with us, It is high time for the young men and women of this generation to awake from sleep and to stay awake that We may wrestle with our duty as world citizens on this question of war. We must not ex pect, and we do not want any snap judgments on this intricate ques- ton. On the other hand, this ques- tion cannot be put off, and then be properly answered by us only when war is on, when criticism and thought are ruled out. when pas sion rages and patriotism is at white heat. Now, after war. when all it's 1 hatefulness and horror is still vivid in our minds, while We have a chance for free discussion and the formation of a calm Judgment, now is the time for beginning the long, hard tourney of investigation and 1 thought that shall end, at last in ! clear views and decided convictions and plain speaking.
 And it is you, who are young men and women today, who must be making Up your minds as to how you stand on the matter of war be- tween nations. For young men have 1 had to fight every war in history, and young women have had to pay the heaviest price in losses by war
 What are you going to say and do about war?' That is the question which every prospective world citi- zen should be facing. That is the first step toward international un- derstanding for it's wars. rumors Of wars and fears of wars. that prevent the nations from understanding and trusting one another better even to- day General sherman told us 60 years ago that War is he'll But what would he have to say today of gas bombs, airplanes and Zeppelins. submarines. disease germs, Big Ber- thas, and chemical warfare descend ing upon cities far behini the lines Certainly the next war will teach Hell a few tricks which Dante's In- ferno' never revealed.
 Degradation of War.
 What is the worst indictment against war? What is the very worst thing you can say about it? Not that it wastes treasure in the form of property-though 1t most certainly does that and puts unborn millions into debt. Not that it wastes human lives. previous as they are and may be. The worst thing that can be said against war is what it does to the spirits of men, the men who must participate in it. The worst thing is not the hurt that follows 'he bayonet thrust, but the cultivated hate that delivers it! It is not so much the taking of life, as it is the degrada- ton of the soul and the society of man.
 T don't know what you think about this problem. I don't know what your attitude as world citizen is to be. I am not sure that any of us see the true and straight way through this jungle yet. But. amid all the divided counsels. 1t seems to me two things are abso-