Part 23 (2/2)
The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who realized from the very beginning of the frightful struggle that it was perfectly useless to expect it, if the disastrous Prussian Militarism was to be maintained and allowed to continue threatening Civilization.
The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who pledged their honour not to sheathe the sword they had been forced to draw before Germany would acknowledge that she had no right to violate solemn treaties, and would agree to redeem the crime she had committed in invading the neutral territory of Belgium which she trampled under her ironed heels and crucified.
The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who determined to bring Germany to renounce the abominable principles she has professed, training the mind of her peoples to believe and proclaim that MIGHT is RIGHT and the only sound basis of INTERNATIONAL LAW.
The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who, however anxious they were to have it restored as soon as possible--fervently praying the Almighty to that purpose--, knowing what are the principles of International Law recognized by all truly civilized nations, could not forgive Germany, UNLESS SHE SINCERELY REPENTED, the barbarism she displayed in her murderous submarine campaign, and practised in Belgium, Northern France and in every piece of belligerent territory her armies occupied.
The TRUE friends of PEACE were those who clearly understood that to meet the two essential conditions of JUSTICE and DURABILITY, it was PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE to secure it by a compromise which could not, by any means, protect the world against further German attempts at universal military domination.
The FALSE friends of PEACE were those who said and wrote, in sheer defiance of truth, that the Allies, more especially England and Russia, were as much responsible for the war as Germany herself.
The FALSE friends of PEACE were those who falsely alleged that the Allies were preventing it by their repeated declarations that their princ.i.p.al war aim was to destroy, not only the German Empire, but also the German race, thus wilfully and maliciously pretending that to battle for the abolition of Teutonic militarism, weighing so heavily on all the nations, was equal, in guilty knowledge, to fighting for an enemy's race destruction.
The FALSE friends of PEACE were those who were ready to sanction, at any time, a compromise between HEROIC and criminal war aims, which would leave future generations to the tender mercies of a Sovereign Power straining every nerve to dominate the world by the foulest means ever devised.
The FALSE friends of PEACE were those whose daily effort was to dishearten their countrymen from the n.o.ble and patriotic task they had bravely undertaken with the strong will to accomplish it at all costs, knowing, as they did, that it was a question of life or death for human Civilization.
”Defeatists,” as they are called, to mean the shameless supporters of PEACE negotiations to be opened by the Allies acknowledging their defeat and the victory of Germany, there were, and there are, in all the ”Allied” belligerent nations. No one need be too much surprised at the hideous fact. In all countries, at all times, under the direst circ.u.mstances, when it is most important, in very distressing hours, that all be of one mind, of one heart, to save the nation's existence, are to be found heartless, low minded, cowardly beings, ready to betray their countrymen rather than stand the strain of their due share of sacrifices, or, which is still far worse, for corrupt motives, to deliver them over to the enemy.
”Defeatists” we have had, we have yet, in Canada, in the Province of Quebec. Most happily, they are few and far between.
Imbued with the false notions he has so tenaciously ventilated respecting Canada's partic.i.p.ation in the war, it is no wonder that the Nationalist leader was sure to be found at the head of the small group of PACIFISTS, at almost any cost, mustered amongst the French Canadians. A sower of prejudices, he was bound to watch with eagerness the growing crop of ill-feelings he was fostering.
Those of us who oppose all, and any, partic.i.p.ation by the Dominion in the wars of the Empire, be they even so just, so honourable, so necessary, under Mr. Boura.s.sa's deplorable leaders.h.i.+p, were naturally supporters of any kind of ”PACIFISM.”
I will not cla.s.sify the Nationalist leader and his dupes as ”_defeatists_,” who were ready to accept peace as the consequence of defeat. The real ”_pacifists_,” so far as it is possible to ascertain their views, unable, consciously or not, to see any difference in the respective responsibilities of the belligerents in opening the war, consider that they are equally guilty in not closing it.
Most happily, such a disordered opinion is shared only by a small minority. It can be positively affirmed that public opinion, the world over, outside the Central Empires and their swayed allies, is almost unanimous that Germany, through her military party and the junkers element, is responsible for the dire calamity she has brought on Humanity. The question of the restoration of ”PEACE” must be viewed from this starting point--the only true one.
The standpoints of the TRUE and the FALSE friends of PEACE being so far apart, the conclusions they draw are naturally widely different.
CHAPTER x.x.xII.
A MOST REPREHENSIBLE ABUSE OF SACRED APPEALS TO THE BELLIGERENT NATIONS.
I cannot qualify in milder words the use Mr. Boura.s.sa has made of the solemn appeals His Holiness the Pope of Rome has, at different dates, addressed to the belligerent nations in favour of the restoration of peace. I bear to the Head of the Church I am so happy to belong such a profound respect and devotion that I will scrupulously abstain from any comment of the Sovereign Pontiff's writings and addresses. I have read them several times over with the greatest attention and veneration, so sure I was that, emanating from the highest spiritual Authority in the world, they were exclusively inspired by the ardent desire to promote a recurrence to good-will amongst men, in obedience to the Divine precept.
Having to reproach the Nationalist leader with having abused of the weighty words of His Holiness, to support his own misconceptions of duty as a loyal British subject and a Christian publicist, I will refrain with great care from writing a sentence which might be construed as the shadow of an attempt to do the same.
I will take from Mr. Boura.s.sa's own comments of the Sovereign Pontiff's appeals, the two conclusions upon which he lays great stress, and which clearly summarize the convictions of His Holiness Pope Benedict XV.
Praying with all the powers of His heart and soul for the orderly future of the world, the Sovereign Pontiff implored, in the most touching terms, the belligerent nations to agree to a ”JUST AND DURABLE PEACE.”
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