A Murder Syndicate to Abolish War
A MURDER syndicate to put an end to war is one of the latest organizations in Europe. It is said to be a secret society that has been formed in France and Germany. There are many leading individuals connected with it, particularly among the women. Some women said to be as high in social and political life as princesses are members of the organization. They say that the only response so far to their "lawful efforts" has been the increasing of the military term of service in France, and in Germany some three million men have been added to the military forces. Acting upon the suggestion and example of the militant suffragettes in England, they believe that the only way to make themselves felt is to inaugurate and secretly plan wholesale murders. Their principal line of attack is to be on the generals of the armies and rulers who are specially warlike. The king of Greece and the Nazim Pasha are said to have perished at the hands of this organization. They were also nearly successful in taking the life of King Alfonso of Spain. The despatches quite fully reported the latest attempt on the king's life, but it has only recently come out that this murder organization were the conspirators. It is believed that the recent book entitled "The Human Slaughter-House," written by Wilhelm Lamszus, the German author, has also done its full share in building up this murder organization. The book was suppressed by the German emperor, but it has been translated into other languages and is being widely circulated. War is certainly awful beyond description, but how can sane people be led into the belief that such wholesale murders would be justifiable? The fact that such an organization has been formed and that it has already been successful in some of its reprehensible work is a strong commentary on the conditions of our day. One is very forcibly reminded of the graphic utterance of the prophet Jeremiah: "For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Wo is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers." Jer. 4:31.