IS WORLD PEACE TO BE A MERE GENERALITY?
Lathrop, John E.
Is "World Peace" to be a Mere Generality? By JOHN E. LATHROP SO PAR AS the glittering generalities are concerned, the movement for universal peace among the nations always receives flattering...
...Does anyone attempt to show why a world agreement for the neutralization of the Panama Canal would not accomplish these three objects: First, prevent the expenditure of at least $12,000,000 or $15,000,000 in fortifications at the Canal...
...But it is noticed that always the same program is proposed year after year for naval extensions, increases in the army and expensive fortifications...
...Apparently, if those angels had sung-in consonance with the wild alarums of our military enthusiasts, they would have sung: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, not peace and good will to men, but grim-visaged war, bristling battleships, frowning fortifications, sword- and musket-armed soldiers, and a burden of billions of dollars of annual taxes laid on the backs of the already over-burdened producers!'' and the figure of Christ, instead of being that of a gentle harbinger of peace and contentment, would have been a Caesar or a Napoleon, to whose natures peace was as foreign as it is to those who seek to retain their present hold on the purse-strings of the nations, and to perpetuate their bloody calling and vanities of official pomp...
...By JOHN E. LATHROP SO PAR AS the glittering generalities are concerned, the movement for universal peace among the nations always receives flattering support by the military enthusiasts...
...Third, constitute the first concrete measure for bringing about universal peace...
...His plan was to have the parliament of every country send representatives to a world parliament, to be held probably in this country, at which, during six months of earnest negotiations, a concrete plan for the prevention of future wars should be formed...
...William 0. McDowell, who for twenty years has been conspicuous in his efforts for world peace, has labored zealously this winter in Washington to induce the Congress to issue a call through the President to all the nations of the world to join in an actual peace compact...
...When, however, a concrete opportunity presents itself, these military enthusiasts invariably find an excuse for refusing to take advantage of it...
...What a travesty...
...The importance of the issue over the fortification of the Panama Canal is more than most people realize...
...nevertheless, naval extensions and increased armies and fortification programs were insisted on by the military enthusiasts...
...In glittering generalities it was commended...
...Must it be true that, as Christianity extends its influence throughout the world, there is to be an increasing disregard of the essential principles enunciated in that great religious faith...
...When England launched her first Dreadnaught, all the great powers began a riot of Dreadnaught building, and this country has been asked year after vear to authorize the construction of four of these naval leviathans annually, while France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Japan have been imbued with the same fervor for expensive naval programs...
...Second, assure that no nation would dare violate the world agreement...
...It is apparent to any thinking man that the same result will follow the inauguration of expensive fortifications, as followed England's launching of her first Dreadnaught, and the more than $5,000,000,000 now expended by the nations of the world for military purposes is likely to be largely increased...
...Christ said, "I come to bring peace...
...Thus far Doctor McDowell's project, feasible and magnificent in conception, has received the same treatment which has been accorded every year to the peace movement...
...High sounding speeches are made by Presidents, Senators, Representatives and Army and Navy officers, whenever a great meeting is held to advocate world peace...
...The New Testament contains the exquisitely beautiful story of the songs of the angels on the plains of Bethlehem that Christmas eve: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men...
...Nineteen centuries after that song of the angels was heard, the civilized world, every nation of which, with one exception, has been Christianized, is engaged in a race for military preparedness...
Vol. 3 • February 1911 • No. 8
