There is a lot of good common sense in this letter. For example, in the opening of the letter the author asks that the name of the War Department be changed to that of the Peace Department, and that its Ministers hereafter be known as Secretaries of Peace, and that what are known as War Policies hereafter may be known as Peace Policies. He shows that in reality the Secretary of War is really a secretary of Peace, and that his primary office is not to make war, but to avert it, and the degree of his prestige is in direct ratio to his success in preserving the peace and tranquility of our people, and that our war budgets are in fact peace budgets, etc.
Of course, we know that the Secretary of War does not have a thing to do with the diplomatic correspondence that arranges for a war, but nevertheless the idea of giving significance to the symbolism of the names of the offices and their ministers has considerable value.
The Socialists and the War. By William English Walling, author of “Socialism As It Is,” “Progressivism and After,” etc., etc. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1915. 512 pp. $1.50 net.
The author here presents a documentary statement of the position of the Socialists of all countries; with special reference to their peace policies, and includes a summary of the Revolutionary state Socialist measures adopted by the Governments at war. The editor of this work is a well known writer on Socialism, being the author of “Socialism As It Is,” “Progressivism and After,” and other books along this line, of which it may be said that this is his best effort.
About three fourths of the book consists of documentary statements of Socialists of all countries toward the war, and the running editorial comments set forth vividly the conditions under which the various statements were made with an indication of why they are important.
The Socialist and a good many others who are great on asking questions will find a few here that are well answered in a fair way. Would the common people of Europe have declared war? Have the peoples of Europe definitely accepted monarchy, or is republicanism a force to be reckoned with? If one side forced the other side to disarm, would this partial disarmament make for total disarmament, or would it make for a war of revenge? And many other questions of a similar nature. A large part of the material utilized by the author, has appeared, under his editorship in The New Review. The Socialists believe that war should be ended immediately, or when the present European war becomes a “draw.”
Defenseless America. By Hudson Maxim. New York: Hearst’s International Library Company. 1915. Price, $2.00, pp. 318.
This volume has been named “A call to arms against War.” A phalanx of facts are presented upon the defenseless condition of this country. After reading this volume we seem to be as helpless as a new-born baby. As a fact we are a new born country. The United States is the youngest of the family of nations, but nevertheless we are a lusty youngster.
It is a fact that self-preservation is the first law of nature. Self-preservation should also be the first law of nations. Is that the case in this country? Upon this subject Mr. Maxim has written this interesting volume.
Every person has a right to his own opinions, and he also has a right to have such opinions as he thinks are right. That is an undisputed privilege. Many think that the United States is well enough prepared, while on the other hand many think that this Government is in a precarious condition on account of its lack of defensive material. Mr. Maxim in accordance with the title of his book holds the latter view. According to his first chapter, any statement against heavier national armament is a dangerous preachment.