CRIMINAL NATIONS.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 237, 18 March 1915, Page 1

CRIMINAL NATIONS.

History repeats itself. So we have often been told, but who, in reading the hi>tory of Att ibis’ invasion of Europe, ever expected it to be repeated in this enlightened 20th century. et the callousness of the atrocities indicted on noncombatants by Germans in Belgium to-day equals and surpasses Attila, while the destruction of hi>toric buildings recalls the \ andals and the Goths. A peaceful nation was overrun by Germany. To save the smaller nation, Britain, true to her treaty obligations, entered the arena. Germany mad with the lu>t of power, drunk with the blood of the slain, must be conquered, and taught to observe the conditions imposed by ‘‘a little bit of paper.” When a criminal runs "amuck” on a large scale we never say, let him alone, wc mu>t not fight him; bushrangers are chased, captured, and brought to justice to secure the safety of the public. At present we have no international tribunal at whose bar criminal nations can be tried, but they cannot be allowed to murder, pillage, outrage, and overawe a continent, and the appeal to arms has been made, the final appeal for international disagreement. Even the peaceloving Quakers speak lot against this war, but decide to help, as far as non-combatants can do so. Women are ever the greatest sufferers in war. Starved babes, outraged girlhood, tortured motherhood, mark the path of the foe. Therefore women of every nation mu>t oppose not only war, but the spirit of militari>m, which is anti-Christian, because it is

the >pirit of hate, and not the spirit of love. In ancient times every family avenged its own wrongs, and blood feuds were common, and lasted for generations. Then followed a long course for the education of public opinion, and a long conflict before law reigned supreme and every criminal was brought to trial in a law court. Now the man who avenges his own wrongs becomes himself a criminal in the eyes of the law and of public opinion. Criminals escaped to other lands, extradition laws followed; now, with our wireless messages and swift means of transit, he i> a very clever criminal indeed who escapes. Kvery nation punishe> criminals by legal means. Apply the same to nations. Let the nation which attempts to avenge it .elf. instead of ap peling to international tribunal, become itself a criminal. Surely when this war is over the nations will see militarism in all its ugliness. Cannot several large nations agree to have an international Court of Appeal? Have wc* not statesmen who could draft its constitution? Let representatives be elected by each nation in the compact. Instead of each nation having it-, own army and navy, as each little* baron had his own in times past, have a police navy, and as every individual in nation is answerable to national law court, so make every nation answerable* to world wide international court. Enforce obedience to this Court. Just as by length of usage men have almost forgotten any way to avenge personal grievances save by legal means, so as centuries roll on nations will forget that they ever set-

tled differences by the sword, and will appeal to international court. Our Empire is now fighting for its very life. It is upholding the right of small nations to exist and govern themselves. A man who enters the* house of a les> powerful neighbour and takes what his fanc y dictates is a criminal and a robber. Is the nation any less criminal which attempts to steal a passage; through a weaker nation against the ir const nt ? Germany is out for universal dominion to rule* the world, to make Be rlin a second Romo, and its Kaiser as absolute as any ancient Caesar. We would not allow any bushranger or robber gang to overcome our land; every man, if necessary, would turn out and bring the criminal to the court o! justice. Still less can we allow any nation to overawe and terrify all others. Germany has got to be beaten before* a. solid peace can be secured. \Xc must be prepared to give* to the penny to the Empire, and not to grudge her every help in her struggle. The l nitc 1 States washed the* Stars and Stripes from the; black stain of slavery in the* blood of her bravest and best, and we pray that the rivers of blood which have been shed, and the* streams of tears which have fallen, may wash the ensigns of Europe clear from the crimson stain of militarism. Surely, in a crusade to secure arbitration, instead of war, women should lead the way. Over 18 centuries have passed since the coming of the Prince of Peace, and war, ugly, ghastly, cruel, inhuman, sparing neither age nor infancy, is devastating the fairest provinces of

Kurope. Mr Asquith says: “To talk of peace now is like the twitting of sparrows in a tempest which is shaking the foundations of the world.” We realise this now, and as true patriots are prepared to do all to assist in driving back the menace of German militari-m. Hut it is equally the duty of patriots to strive that in future international arbitration take the place of war. To create such a world-wide spirit of peace and brotherhood that the nation which sins against the spirit of brotherhood becomes an outlaw and « criminal, every nation against it. The Fatherhood of God, if a reality to a nation or individual, means the brotherhood of man. How far we are from realising this ideal the bloodsoaked plains of Belgium and Poland could tell. Hut let us hold fast to our ideal, and some day, if we work and pray, it will be realised. Then nations will settle disputes by arbitration, the great armaments will be a thing of the past. Criminal nations will be* tried at the bar of international justice and punished by a world wide court, as individuals are sentenced by national court.