THE SIN OF WAR.
(To Till EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR."] STR,—Since the State itself recognizes that there are "conscientious objectors" to war whose scruples must be respected, we must needs be tolerant of those who proclaim that war is a sin, not only for them but for those who do not share their views. But when pacificist propaganda takes the form of a book by several contributors who "believe that war is indefensible from the Christian standpoint," and cot forth reasons fos holding that Christians who actively support the present war are wrong, it is perhaps time to say that if the well-meaning contributors to that book are right, most of us are not only not Christians in their sense, but have no intention whatever of being so absurd. If we pray " Defend us, Thy humble servants, in a.11 assaults of our enemies," it is because we believe that war is a calamity, indeed, permitted by Divine Providence, but not in the least degree a inn in those who risk their lives in the service of a just cause. Nay, more, however sinful may be those who engineered the attack on the liberties of free nations against which we ere fighting, we do not admit that the German soldier who does his duty and dies for his country is a sinner. The essociation of ultra-pacifeist doctrine with Christianity is a wrong to Christian manhood. It is Forhaps com- parable with the to aching of those who regard the use of surgery and medieine'as sinful, or refuse'to eat animal food became we have no right to kill animals, but have a right, somehow, to destroy and devour vege- table life. But let us sturdily assert that warfare in a just cause is not a sin but the noblest of Christian virtues, end that valiant self-sacrifice is a form of heroism for which we must needs feel the deepest and most inexpressible admiration.—I am, Sir, Ac., J. D. A.
Previous page
