THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1909. AN ADVOCATE OF PEACE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9674, 13 December 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1909. AN ADVOCATE OF PEACE.

Professor Adolf Harnack, who is a well-known critic, has recently been discussing Anglo-German relations. Although the Professor is a highly intellectual individual he takes a somewhat sentimental idea of European politics, and this fact is, perhaps, rather fatal to the value of his remarks. The men who urge peace theories when referring to AngloGerman relations should be able to assure peace beyond any possibility of doubt, if certain lines are followed, for the situation has grown far too serious to attach any importance to theorists or sentimentalists. Action strong and vigorous is the only j hope of averting war between England and Germany, and the former nation should look to the strength of its army with no uncertain mind. Dr. Harnack, however, contends that his view is that of the true scientist, and as such it is interesting. He declares that any scientist, if fte is anything more than a "mere carter," is working for the world's benefit, and not for national ends. "Have we," asks Dr. Harnack, "indeed, exhausted all possibilites of i living together? Have not assurances of peace frequently, to our. s'tame, turned out to be Insincere? Have not difficult situations often been happily surmounted? It is atrocious to speak of an iron neces- ! sity which perforce must issue in | war, when we are only just beginning to accustom ourselves to new 1 relationships, and certainly do not yet know that the confident hope of 'Room enough for all upon the earth' will not be scientifically established upon a new and broader hasis. Therefore, to-day, in tl<e international life of peoples, the two chief questions are: How can we convert the national strife of interests into a noble emulation? And for the attainment of Huh end what < a positioi of m i''H we-op selves 1 to cherish, a d in ».a.t ittw L,.ui&

can we express this disposition? j At the present moment the history of the world urges thc ;e J questions insistently upon Eng- j land and Germany. If they can answer them, their solution will have a world-wide significance. To tiiis conclusion the finger on the clock of time is pointing; and for j tnis reason the situation is serious. But a glorious task awaits us; we are conscious of tha beating of the pulae of the progressive lif3 of humanity, striving to advance beyond that to which it has already attained. Science ough*. to help us in our endeavour to prjmote bet.er mutual knowledge and understanding. When international intercourse was restricted, a surface acquaintance sufficed. It is no longer sufficient, : because we have drawn nearer to one another. Our two peoples are st'll, I however, to a lartre extent ignorant of each other, and such ignorance leads to pernicimis misunderstandings. As a whole, England's civilisation is still superior to ours, however great may be the advantage which we have gainej in some important spheres Thorough scientific study, kindly endeavour to enter into the significance of foreign characteristics, and active intercourse between the intellectual leaders of our two peoples will bring us nearer and nearar together. In the second place Science may do much to uproot the noxious weed which imperils the peaceful intercourse of nation with nation—Chauvinism. Certainly what we can do for each other depends upon what we are; hence a vigorous expression of its self-consciousness must be permitted to every nation; in its language it may use the privilege of youth. But Chauvinism,, which regards its own people as the elect, and sanctions haughty and offensive language, is a dangerous, indeed a terrible, enemy of peace. May the press of both countries, whose responsibility is continually growing, especially remember this. The better instructed its representatives are in historical Sciencp, the more certainly will they be trustworthy leaders and render meritorious service to their fatherland. H istorical knowledge imparts at once strength and modesty, and a newspaper conducted in this spirit is of the greatest value in the education of the nations and in the maintenance of the peace of tlie : world, j For herein does Science resemble ' true religion;' in its ultimate aim it j always has the whole man in view. Every worker in tne domains of Science, If he is anything more than ' a mere carter, is penetrated by tho noble feeling that he is working tor the whole, and in every fellowj worker, to whatever nation he may belong, he recognises an ally and a friend. With pride we may say that those who desire the peace of the world may make a loud appeal to science, civilisation and brotherli- ' nefas; and especially may we do this, if we of; England snd | Germany. To-day this appeal awakens !in millions a resonant echo. What was once the longing and the dream of a few .progressive and high-minded spirits!' is beginning to be realised; our indifference must bear the Dlame, if this ia not more clearly manifest. No intelligent man believes in a universal world-state —a Platonopolis; but the promise of 'peace on earth among men of goodwill' has already become the watchword of leaders and men of insight." "Room enough for all, upon the earth" may be lovely in theory and beautiful in fact, but it is a practical as pectofthe Anglo-German relationship. Dr. Harnack, like so many scientists, who discuss the position makes no allusion whatever to the fact that war, if it does not actually produce, at any rate, develops certain very desirable qualities in vmankind, and war is the only condition under which those qualities flourish. Men of science discover and study the secrets of Nature, but they cannot alter-her laws, and war, it must be admitted, is a vary natural proceeding.