Reason and War

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 14, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 24.

Reason and War.—Sir Wilfred Lawson, the Sunset Cox of the House of Commons, who says so many good things in such a lightsome way that they lose half their weight, points out the unreason of war by the following anecdote: "I think that reason is clearly on our side [that is, the side of peace]. I will explain that by a story. A young soldier was engaged in a battle. A cannon ball came and carried off the head of the man who was near him, and spattered his brains all about the place. He was looking very solemn and serious, when the commanding officer came by, and said, 'My good man, don't be frightened.' 'O, no,' said he, 'I am not frightened; I am only wondering how a man with so much brains ever came to be here!''" One of the most unreasonable things in the world is war.