An Appeal to the President from the Christian Churches of the United States
By Dr. Frank Crane
The Church of Jesus Christ to the President of the United States, GREETING: WE ARE at an unexampled crisis of history. Civilization is in danger. The world points with scorn at the amazing outbreak of violence among so-called Christian nations. Twentieth century States are fighting with the ferocity of Huns, with the cruelty of ancient Rome, with the unreason of medieval fanatics. Never in time has such horror been let loose on earth. Unnumbered corpses of men lie mangled in the fields. Thousands of women are widowed, their lives blighted. Houses everywhere are darkened. Poverty stalks in all lands. Pestilence follows. The judgment of Christ therefore shows the wretched ignorance of nations: “They that take the sword shall perish by the sword.” The United States of America is the only one of the great powers of the world that is at peace. Under your wise guidance we have so far avoided disastrous entanglements. But how shall we use the privilege of our fortunate isolation? Shall we merely take advantage of it to capture the markets of the world and make money out of the distress of other nations? WE BELIEVE that you believe that States are as morally bound to do right and to act solely as are individuals. From your public utterances we know that you reject the pernicious doctrine that the nation’s only morality is expediency; its only righteousness force. You have often spoken of this country’s duty to “serve mankind.” Is it “serving mankind” to stand aloof when brother nations are in extremities, or get gain from their disaster? There is but one way to serve the world at this juncture. That is to take such steps as will eliminate the possibility of future wars. And there is but one way to do this. It is to begin the formation of the Federation of the World. It is to substitute the court of law for the arbitrament of war in settling the disputes of nations. It is to have one army and one navy, under the orders of this court, whose duty it shall be to prevent war and not to make war, even as city police prevent and not make street brawls. THE fundamental error is that each nation now is the judge and executioner of its own case. This is practical anarchy. And international anarchy is as horrid as anarchy among private citizens. To continue to make treaties with separate nations is useless so long as each nation is its own judge, backing up its decrees with its own guns. The absurdity of this to be realized needs only to be stated. The Federation of the World is not Utopian. It does not have to wait for the millennium. It is practical right now. It is not necessary to “change human nature.” All that is needed is to substitute law for violence. This we have already done in all civilized communities; and what has been accomplished in Holland and in Ohio is feasible for the whole world. Some nation must begin the movement. This is the nation. We are the richest country on the globe, the most powerful in the resources of men and money. We are not mixed up in any of the complications, jealousies nor rivalries of the Old World. At the close of this war we shall have probably the naval supremacy of the world. A proposition coming from us would command the respectful attention of all the earth. We therefore earnestly petition you to do this one thing in the name of that Christ whom you and we desire to obey. CALL upon Congress to invite all nations to join us in a World-Federation, that shall leave to each land its entire independence and that shall confine itself to the adjudication of international disputes. We need not wait for all to come with us. Let us encourage the Federation with any who will come in. We believe all the American republics will join us. We believe that China is ready. We believe that, as the war wears on, the European States will be glad to escape from their deadlock and unite with us. We are not peace fanatics. We do not stand for cowardice nor dishonor. But we do stand for law as against anarchy; and for an intelligent government of the world as against such gigantic ignorance and folly as have led the European nations into this sacrilegious whirlwind of waste and wickedness. AND you, Woodrow Wilson, are the man to act. We elected you. We believe you want to serve us. We believe you are listening very closely to hear the will of this great people and to do it, in the fear of God. It is our will, and also the will of all the peoples of earth, that war shall cease; war, the supreme misgovernment, the prime stupidity; for we know that justice comes not from trial of arms, and that while princes sometimes profit from war the people never do. Let our Congress issue its call to the nations. Let it back up this in sincerity by placing our armament at the disposal of this Federation. Let us spend hundreds of millions, not in fortifying our coasts, Panama, the Philippines, but perfecting the Federation. Let us send our most representative men abroad to preach world-unity; such men as our ex-Presidents and others whose ability and distinction entitle them to a world-hearing. WE WOULD not so address you did we not believe you have the courage, the vision and the high statesmanship requisite for this, so great a matter. Lead us! The great American people are with you. Proclaim the United States of the World!