Consider finally the arena of national existence. We saw a nation but a little while ago into whose hands was given a rod of widespread authority and power. Germany was dominant on the conitinent of Europe because of her commercial efficiency, her high consciousness of solidarity.
Her merchants were conquering as wide a world as her musicians. But alt this wae put to the hazard by its translation into violence. The rod became a snake, and as if by sorcery al] the intellect and powere of civilization were dograd. ed to the task of countering savagery by savagery. The lust of dominion and the poison of revenge defiled the very thoughts of Chris-tendon.
And as if that were not lesson enough, we have another nation today employing its advantages in the same futile fashion—a nation that was near to utter destruction, but marvellously helped, and not only rescued from ruin but endowed with its lost provinces whose restoration had only been a dream. Here was a chance for the exercise of moral strength. People say cynically through their disbelief in God "You cannot get your money back by moral influence." Well, I believe that ie the delusion of unbelief. But this thing has been proved once for Germany, and will be proved again for France, that you stand to lose everything you have by the losg of moral control by choosing the way of violence you Waste far more than you win. The Kaiser who flung his mighty rod upon the ground had to flee finally from a serpent. And that is the end of all who misuse the powers that were entrusted for the good of all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.