Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 259, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1918 — The Woman’s Peace Party [ARTICLE]

The Woman’s Peace Party

By HARRIET CHAPPEL

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Ages ago—that is, in the early days of the European war, the Woman’s Peace party undertook the noble work of curing the world’s war sickness.] They attracted my attention by announcing a two weeks’ course of lectures which promised vast enlightenment. On their list of speakers were notable names? I remember- hearing Professor Hull, Professor Nasmith, Norman Angell, Madeline Z. Doty, and Crystal Eastman. 1 attached myself to them with great hopes. I thought, “Now I shall hear of a substitute for war, effective enough to check evil doers,” for I bad .a Philistine feeling that there were evildoers yet about Daily I listened to those lectures and even timidly put my questions when the proper time for question came. They were nice people, those friends, and L am very grateful for the opportunity of study which they afforded me. But my first question, “Suppose some evil-minded nation is really bent on aggression, what means Can be used for curbing it without warfare?” never received a direct answer. That was because they blandly assumed that all nations are really bent on peacejyxd wars arise purely from misapprehensions; therefore what is needed is agreements to arbitrate and to boycott fretful nations. So simple! Might Be Sinner Nations. My supposition that there might be sinner nations must have seemed frightfully crude, but somehow it lingers with me yet. Their plans, based on International agreements and economic penalties, appeared to me so remote and so conditional upon the good will of the parties—which good will would keep the peace anyway—that I grew doubtful of their practical value. But a second problem there was, which might bring to light a remedy for war. “In case an aggressor appeared, would he be disarmed by nonresistance?” I thought. Perhaps a nation of willing martyrs, ready to be stripped of land and life rather than fight, would shame the world into peace. “But,” thought I, “what an

amount of educating it will take tune the minds of a whole people . this self-sacrifice. Perhaps these friends seek to do that work of education?" But no. They scarcely admitted the case of invasion of an unresisting people. Neither did I hear advice to endure all that might be inflicted by a foe. Friend? might persecute a pacifist, but a so Since that time Russia’s conflagration has illuminated the idea, but even Russians have not been consistent martyrs. They have done some lively fighting when antagonists have proved to be not altogether harmless. < ' J Finally. I thought, “Although they have neither a practical substitute for war. nor a holy teaching of non-resist-ance. perhaps still they offer the clearest, swiftest leadership we have, and in a little while they will, perhaps, formulate the practical remedy.” But a third time I was disappointed. Could Not Follow Them. . .J 1 As the current of events swept the United States toward war, these people' might have joined in the needed..,w.mjk. of the hour, making themselves useful as Norman Angell has, and “deferred their teaching of ideals until the people returned to a teachable mood. In such a course they would have shown practical leadership and good pedagogy. Instead they persistently forced their cry for “peace” upon a nation angrily conscious Of a throttling hand ar its throat. They did more. They went to Washington and hung upon the skirts of a sorely-tried government with the alm of hampering its action. And their I broke with them. \ Regretfully I wrote to them saying I could no longer follow a leadership so lacking in propriety, so out of touch with the actual American spirit, so dominated by fantastic theories made in Germany. But I had to resign a second time before they could understand it. They are, however, well-meaning people and very earnest in the pursuit of the ideal, and I am grateful for the opportunity for study which they offered in this institute. But—l wonder if now, in the light of recent history, they have discovered that much-want-ed substitute for war? Or —that there may be sinner nations? Or —if they are ready now for the alternative of non-resistance, as in Armenia? Or —if they have discovered the American principle of co-operation and neighborly solidarity, as an adequate social method in place of socialism?