Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/44

40 The peace-at-all-costs advocate is invariably of narrow mind. We prefer that simple statement of truth to any vilification of his motives. Besides being more dignified, it will be more certain to get home. In former days many a man, fond of over-imbibing and adamant to the accusation that he was wicked, was brought up standing when some close friend brutally told him that he was a fool; that no really good business man would willfully suffer himself to be incapacitated during business hours. So long as he thought people looked upon him as more or less of a devil he took a fiendish glee in his inebriety and his ability to shock sensitive natures; but with even that doubtful regard shattered, and himself classed merely as lacking in brains, there remained to his vanity no solace in drunkenness.

If peace-at-all-costs were ever a ruling motive for a nation, it would be a plain invitation to diplomacy the world over to take advantage. Like a sign of “Help yourself” it would upset competitive effort and would ruin business and commerce instanter, for all would rush to share in the spoils just as miners rush to newly discovered gold diggings of reputed richness. It has been well said that “no man is so innocently employed as the man who is busy at legitimately making money.” For he is constantly faced with problems the solution of which develops and improves his brain and his will-power, and he is meanwhile assisting in providing employment for others who are in need of work. And employment—honest, lucrative toil—is the absolute essential to contentment among the masses of the people. Through it a man provides for himself and for those dependent upon him, develops independence and personal pride, and learns to regard the rights and opinions of others.

The following extracts from a speech delivered by the Rev. John W. Day, pastor of the Church of the Messiah, St. Louis, commend themselves to all Americans who have the good of the Nation at heart:

“Militarism is exercise of war for its own sake or for unworthy ends; pacifism is the exercise of peace in disregard of its worth.”

“Two strong tendencies exist which are likely to be misunderstood; one is the revulsion against war, and the other is the wish to forget the four years of the Great War. That revulsion is natural; it arises from the memory of terrible things and the wish not to go through them again, and it is shared by people who fought as well as by the people who did not. No one hates war more than those who