AprotestandawarningaddressedtothepeoplesofEurope
EdwardCarpenter
NeveragainmustthisThinghappen。Thetimehascome——ifthehumanracedoesnotwishtodestroyitselfinitsownmadness——formentomakeuptheirmindsastowhattheywilldointhefuture;fornowindeedisittruethatwearecometothecross—roads，westandatthePartingoftheWays。
TherapidandenormousgrowthofscientificinventionmakesitobviousthatViolencetentimesmorepotentandsinisterthanthatwhichwearewitnessingto—daymayveryshortlybeavailableforouruse——orabuse——inWar。OntheotherhandwhocandoubtthattherapidgrowthofinterchangeandunderstandingamongthepeoplesoftheworldisdailymakingWarfareitself，andthebarbaritiesinevitablyconnectedwithit，moreabhorrenttoourcommonhumanity？
Whichoftheselinesarewetofollow？Alongwhichpatharewetogo？
Thisisaquestionwhichthemass——peoplesofEuropeinthefuture——andnotmerelytheGovernments———willhaveseriouslytoponderanddecide。
Thatbodiesofmen——ashashappenedahundredtimesinthetrenchesinNorthernFranceandevenontheEasternFront——shouldexchangemorningsalutationsandsongsinhumorousamity，andthenatawordofcommandshouldfalltoshootingeachother;
Thatpeasantsandartisans，andshopkeepersandstudentsandschoolmasters，whohavenoquarrelwhatever，whoonthewholeratherrespectandhonoureachother，shouldwithexplosivebombsdeliberatelyblowoneanothertobitssothateventheirownmotherscouldnotrecognizethem;
Thathumanbeingsshoulduseeverydevilishinventionofsciencewiththeonepurposeofmaiming，blinding，destroyingthoseagainstwhomtheyhavenopersonalgrudgeorgrievance;
Allthisissheermadness。
Onlyashorttimeagoaprivatesoldiersaidtome:\"Yes，wehadgottobesuchfriendswiththoseBavariansinthetrenchesoveragainstusthatifwehadreturnedthereagainIbelievenothingcouldhavemadeusfightwitheachother;butofcoursethatpointwasperceivedandweweremovedtoanotherpartoftheLine。\"
WhatacriticisminafewwordsonthewholeWar！
Ahundredtimesthisorsomethingsimilarhashappened，andahundredandathousandtimesthese’enemies’whohavemadlymutilatedeachotherhave——afewminuteslater——beenonlytoogladtodresseachother’swoundsandsharethelastcontentsoftheirwater—bottles。
Byalltheheart—rendingexperienceswhichhavenowbecomesocommonandfamiliartous;
Bythefactthatto—daythereishardlyafamilyoverthegreaterpartofEuropethatisnotgrievingbitterlyoverthelossofsomedearestmemberofitscircle;
Bythewhitefacesofthewomencladinblack，whomoneseeseverywhereinthestreetsofBerlinandBrusselsandParisandVienna，ofLondonandMilanandBelgradeandPetrograd;
Bythesufferingsoffamine—strickenPoland，ravagedalreadythreeorfourtimesinthelasttwoyearsbyopposingandalternatearmies;
BytheawfulsufferingsofthesixorsevenmillionJewsoftheRussianPale，houndedhomelessinwintertoand，frooverthefrozenearththeoldmenandwomenandchildrenperishingofexposure，fatigue，andstarvation;
BytheagonyofSerbia，andthedespairofBelgium;
Thismustnotbeagain！
Bythefiveorsixmillionactualcombatantsalreadyslain;and，thestrangespectacleofmillionsofWomen（overhalfamillioninBritain，moreinFrance，multitudesinGermanyandAmerica）
manufacturingman—destroyingexplosiveshellsinceaselessstreambydayandnight;
（Anditisestimatedthatontheaveragesomefiftyshellsareexpendedforeveryonemanslain）
Bytheterrifiedfaces——asofdrowningmen——ofthosesufferingincountlesshospitalsfromshell—shock;bytheirtremblinghandsand，limbsandhorribledreamsatnight——pursuedbyanever—livinghorror;
Bythecursesofthetender—heartedfriendwhocollectsinNo—man’s—landbetweenthelinesthescatteredfragmentsofhiscomrade’sbody——thedabsofflesh，thehand，theheadheknowssowell，abootwithafootstillinit——andputsthemalltogetherinasackforburial;
Bythesilentstupefactionofwivesandmotherstryingvainlytopicturetothemselvesadeathwhichcannotbepictured;bytheinsanelaughterofthosewhohavingwitnessedthesethingscannolongerweep;
Thismustnotbeagain！
BythebeachatGallipolicoveredwiththeprostrateandwrithingformsofmenexhaustedandemaciatedwithdysentery，whohavecrawleddownfromthehillsonlytolieoutthereintheterriblesuntormentedwithfliesandthirst，ortoshiverthroughthefrostynight，waitingforthetardyarrivaloftheHospitalShip;
Bythehundredsofbodiesthrownatthelastintotheseaatsunrise，fortheirunceremoniousend;
Andeachpoorbodyforallitsloathsomestatesoloved，solovedbysomeonefaraway;
BythedearLordwhointhebeautifullegenddescendedforthreedaysintoHellthathemightredeemmankind;butthesehavelivedinanactualHellforweeksandmonthstogether——
Thismustnotbeagain！
BythegrowthandexpansionofScience（Godforgivetheword！）whichwillinevitablymakeeachfuturewarmoredevilishandinhumanthanthelast;
BythecryoftheblackandcolouredpeoplesoftheEarthwhohaveforlongenoughalreadysaidhowhardandcruelthefacesofthewhitemenseemedtothem，andwhonowthinkhowblacktheirsoulsare;
Bythehardnessofheart，theinsensitivenessofacertainkind，whichduringacenturyormorenowhasbeenbredbytheinstitutionsofCommercialism;
Bythehabitualbetrayal，throughlongperiodsof’prosperity’and`peace，’ofmenbytheirfellows——oftheweakbythepowerful，ofthegenerousbythemean，ofthesimpleandthoughtlessbythecraftyandselfish;
BythehugedividendsdeclaredbyArmamentFirms;bytheinternationalagreementsofthesefirmswithoneanother，eventocozentheirownrespectiveGovernments;
Bythehundredsandhundredsofthousandsofinnocentfolktrampledunderfootintheditchofcompetition，themad，raceinwhichthedeviltakesthehindmost;
Bythetreacherousinternalwarfareoftheordinaryindustriallifeofeverycountry，thesecretbetrayalandmurderofbodiesandsoulsforprofit——atlastwrittenoutinlettersofbloodandfireacrossthecontinents，foralltobehold——
Thismustnotbeagain！
LettheAlliesbyallmeansaccuseGermanyofworld—ambitionandworld—plunder，andlettheGermanpeopleaccusetheirPrussianlordsbutleteverynationalsosearchitsownheartandaccuseitself。
Forhavenotthelordsofeverynationsetbeforethemselvesthesamegoal，thegoalofworld—ambitionandgloryand’empire’andplunder？Andhavenotthemass—peoplesofeverynationstoodmeanlybyandacclaimedthefraud，norspokenoutagainstit，silentlyconsentingtothesethingsintheprospectofsomeadvantagealsotothemselves？
Havenotallthenationswithoutexceptionactedmeanlyanddastardlytowardstheoutlyingblackraces，andeventowardsthosemorecivilizedpeopleswhomtheythoughtweakerthanthemselves——andnowinthestressofwararetheynotfindingthattheirownrightsandlibertiesarebeingslowlyfilchedfromthem？
Yes，thatis，theendofGloryandofGreed。
Butthedayofgloryisdeparted。Thenewspapers，itistrue，stillkeepupthephrase。Theytalkofabattalion\"coveringitselfwithglory。\"Butthementhemselvesdonottalkso。Theyknowtoowellwhatitallmeans。Theyseenogloryincoveringthemselveswiththebloodoftheirbrothersoftheopposingtrenches;withwhomafewmomentsbeforetheywerejoininginsongsandjokes。
Theyonlysay:Nowthatwehavebegun，wewillseeitthrough——butitmustnotbeAgain。
NeverIthinkinallthehistoryoftheworldhastherebeenathingsogreatinitswayasthepresentBritishArmyandNavy。Thisenormousforce，raised——exceptforasmallremnant——byVoluntaryenlistmentfromallclassesofthenation，andinspiredmorebyageneralandprotectivesensetowardstheMotherlandthanbyanythingelse，hasfulfilledwhatitconsideredtobeitsdutyanditshonourwithadevotionandaheroismunsurpassed。Itwereimpossibletostayandrecountitsmanywonderfuldeeds。
Ayoungofficersaidtomeoneday——\"Horribleasthewholethingis，yetitalmostseemsworthwhile，whenyouthinkofthesplendidthingsdone——anddonetooinsuchasimplematter—of—factway:whenyouthinkofalltheloveanddevotionpouredout，andthelivesourmenhavegivenoneforthesakeofanother。\"
Greatindeedisthespiritofsuchanarmy，greatitsmagnanimity，itssimplicityofmind，itsunself—consciousness，itssingleconcentrationonitspurpose。
Yetperhapsthemostsurprisingthingaboutourmenisthattheyhavedoneallthiswithsolittlehatredintheirheartsfortheenemy。
WhatevertheGermansmayhavefelt，andwhatevertheFrench，theBritishershavejustdonetheirfightingintheirownnonchalantway\"becausetheyhadto\"——withscarcelyashadowofmaliceorrevenge——ratherwiththatrespectforadoughtyopponentwhichalwaysdistinguishesthetruefighter。
Thinkofthatquaintstory（BetweenTheLines，byBoydCable，pp188ff）
oftheGermanBurschenintheirtrenches，singingwithpiousenthusiasmtheSongofHate（probablycommandedandcompelled，poordevils，tosingit）
andourmenfordayssecretlylistening，learningthewords，practicingthetuneontheirmuffled，mouth—organs;tillhavinggotitallcompletetheyonemorning，burstitforthinfullchorusontheastonishedTeutons，norfailedattheendtoblazeout\"GottstrafeEngland\"atthetopof，theirvoicesasiftheyreallymeantit——andthensubsidedintoaroaroflaughter。TheysimplywouldnottaketheGerman\"Hate\"seriously。
Well，whatcananenemydowithsuchanarmy？Itwouldseemindeedtobeinvincible。
TheothersurprisingthingaboutthisArmyis（butitisalsoinparttrueoftheRussiansandothers）thatthemembersofitnotonlybearsolittlemaliceintheirheartofheartsagainsttheenemy，butthatallthetimethey（ornine—tenthsofthem）aregivingtheirlife—blood，foraCountrywhichinhardlyanyavailableoradequatesensecanreallybesaidtobelongtothem。
Notonemanofoursinten，probablynotoneinahundred，hasanydirectrightsorinterestinhisnativesoil;andtheMotherlandhastoooften（atanyrateinthepast）turnedoutastepmotherwhodisownedhimlaterwhencrippledinherservice。
Heistoldthatheisfightingforhiscountry，buthefindsthathisrealprivilegeistodieatthefootofaTrespass—boardonsomerichman’sestate，singingbravelytothelastthat\"Britonsnever，nevershallbeslaves！\"Heistoldthatheisdefendinghishearthandhishome，andtoprovethatthatisso，heissentoutonafarcampaigntofurthersomedubiousscheme——inMesopotamia！Ithinkwecannotrefusetosaythatthegoodtemperandtheysingle—heartednessandthesinglemindednessoftheBritishsoldierarebeyondallpraise。
But，inanotherway，howadmirableandhowgreathastheFrenchsoldierprovedhimselftobe！
ThepassionofPatriotism，thesheerloveoftheirowncountry（inthecaseoftheFrench，moretruly\"theirown\"thaninthecaseoftheBritish）hassweptthroughFranceinawaveofdevotionwhichconsumedinitsflame，onemayalmostsay，theenergiesandthetreasuresofeveryhousehold。Toprotecttheirbeautifulland，theirdivinemistress，fromviolationbytheGermanhordeswasathingforwhichallmen——artists，literarymenandall——weregladtodie。
WhenatMeauxtheFrencharmy（reorganizedandreinforced）brokethroughtheGermancentreandfelluponVonKluck’sleftflank（hisrightbeingalreadythreatenedbytheFrenchSixthArmy），theyweresurelynotmenwhofought，butspiritsrather——manyofthemalmostghosts，whitewiththefatiguesandprivationsofalongretreat;buttosavetheirbelovedParistheyfacedtheenemywithafurythatnothingcouldresist。
Amiraclewaswrought（talkofAngelsatMons，itwasDevilsatMeaux），andGermanyinthatmomentwasdefeated——eventhoughittooktwoyearsmoretomakeheracknowledgeherdefeat。
ThinkofLieutenantPericardwhoinatrenchfullofcorpsesatBois—brulecried，suddenlyentranced，inaloudvoice，\"Deboutlesmorts！\"
andinamoment，asitwere，thesoulsoftheirdeadcomradeswerearoundhismen，inspiringthemtovictory。
WhenagainatVerdunweekafterweekandmonthaftermonththeFrencharmyenduredtinealmosthourlymass—attacksoftheenemybattalionsandthedelugeoftheirshells（eightmillionshells，itisestimatedtheGermansthrewintenweeks），itstill，thoughheavilypunished，stoodsolid，andthewholeofFrancestoodsolidbehindit。Franceneverdoubtedtheconclusion;andtheconclusionwasneverdoubtful。
Wehavespokenof`glory，’butthedayof`lagloire’hasdeparted。
Franceherselfhasceasedtospeakofit——andtherecanbenobetterproofthanthat，ofthechangethathascomeoverthemindsofmen。
FrancehasemergedfromtheWarachangednation。Thepeoplewhoin1870maderibaldversesandsangcynicalsongsovertheplightoftheircountryarenownomore，andFranceemergesserious，resolute，tothegreatworkwhichshehasbeforeher——ofbuildingthegreatfirstDemocraticStateofEuropeandbecomingthecorner—stoneofthefutureEuropeanConfederation。
AndwhatshallwesayoftheGermanarmy？（InthemomentandmerelyforthesakeofbrevityIleavetheBelgians，Russians，ItaliansandSerbiansaside。）
WhenIthinkofthegreatGermanarmynowscatteredoverEurope，fightingalongthatimmenseline（includingtheAustrianportion）
ofsome1，400milesinextent;whenIthinkofthisonthewholesowonderfullygoodhearted，genial，sociablepeople，theseregimentsofWestphalians，Wurtemburgers，Saxons，Bavarians，Hungarians，thesemenandboysfromthefieldsandfarmsofPosenandPomerania，theforestsofThuringia，thevineyardsoftheRhineorthevegetablegardensofthePalatinate，thesestudentsfromtheUniversitiesandscholarsfromtheTechnicalSchools;plungedinthisinsaneWar，fightinginverytruthfortheyknownotwhat，andpouringouttheirlife—blood，likewaterinobediencetothelong—preparedschemesoftheirrulers——Iamseizedwithanimmensepity。
TheyhavebeentoldtheyarefightingtosavetheirFatherland。
Andasfarasourargumentisconcerneditdoesnotmatterhowfalselytheyhavebeeninstructedorwhatgrainofactualtruththeremaybeinthecontention。
Thepointisthatthevastmajorityofthembelievethistobetrue;andtheytoo，dearchildren，aregivingtheirlivesfortheirhearthsandhomes——theytooareleadingthishatefulexistenceintrenchesandmines，calledtoitbywhatseemstothemagoodconscience，andcarriedonward（incompanywiththosetheyhaveleftathome）inthemadmillraceofpublicopinion。
Howeverwemay，blametheGermanHighCommand——andcertainlywemustblamethoseinpower，whooversuchalongperioddeliberatelypreparedthiswar，andatthelastsosuddenlylaunchedituponEurope。
HoweverwemayblametheGermanHighCommand，wecannotrefusetoacknowledgethereallygreatqualitiesoftheirgeneralArmy:
itsextraordinarycourageanddevotion，itsversatilityandresource。
Astoitsgoodheartedness，thatisprovedbytheendlessstoriesofspontaneousfriendlinessshownbytheGermantroopseventotheirenemies，theindividualrapprochementsonoccasions，thesuccourtothewounded，theChristmassongsandcelebrations，andbythefactofadvancesofthiskindsooftencomingfirstfromtheGermanside。
Astoitsgoodsense，thatelementcertainlyhasnotbeenwanting。
Amongthestories’above—mentionedascomingfromtheFrontisonewhichIhaveeveryreasontobelieveistrue。TheSaxonsoneday，intheirtrenchesthirtyorfortyyardsaway，putupablackboardonwhichwaswritten:\"TheEnglisharefools！\"Theboardwasofcoursepepperedwithbullets，andwentdrown。Presentlyitreappearedwith\"TheFrencharefools！\"writtenonit。Beingdulypepperedagainitwentdown，andcameupwith\"TheRussiansarefools！\"Sametreatment。Butwhenit，orasimilarboard，appearedforthefourthtime，lo！theinscriptionwas\"TheAustriansarefools！\";andwhenitappearedforthefifthtime，\"TheGermansarefools！\";andthesixthtime，\"Weareallfools！\"
Idon’tthinktherecouldbemuchbettersensethanthat。