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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review October 1914

Review

page 21

Review.

"Concordia," the Annual Journal of the Aberdeen University Peace Society.

We received a copy of "Concordia," with a request to bring it under the notice of the students of the Victoria University College.

The aim of the magazine is to urge upon people the necessity for working to secure international arbitration and to promote universal peace. This can be brought about only by education. "Let all nations be educated to see that war is unnecessary," says the Editor; and he adds that "the task of educating the people is a heavy one, but it can be done. It will be accomplished all the sooner if the universities of the world rise to the height of their great mission, and see to it that the students and the people are fully instructed with regard to the true relations existing between States."

The magazine contains throughout good sane writing, though one may at times object to the views expressed. The names of the contributors are a guarantee of the real value of the articles. Probably the best known of the writers are Viscount Esher and Mr. Norman Angell.

We should like to deal fully with the magazine, but, unfortunately, must be content with quoting occasional paragraphs to illustrate the view-points of the writers.

Of direct interest to students in particular is the article, "The Aims and Uses of a University Peace Society," by Mr. A. G. Harvey, M.P.:—

"It is largely with the minds of men and women that we have to do in spreading the idea of international peace, and, for the great majority of people, putting aside those whose ideas spring spontaneous from the dictates of religion and humanity, the whole argument is of a highly intellectual character.

"If we are ever to lift from human life the horrors and expenses of war and its preparation, we must do what we can to substitute reasoned thought for gusty passion; page 22 and we must overcome narrow and ignorant prejudices which, masquerading under the worthy names of patriotism and nationalism, are really caricatures of homely virtues.

" . . . Cultured men and women may do a great work . . . by creating, first in themselves, and then in others, a frame of mind hostile to war and favourable to peace. . . . The University Peace Society can do a splendid and unique work. There is a quite peculiar sentiment of inter-relationship between the sons of Universities, wherever they may be. I would advise that the utmost possible use should be made of this, and that as much communication as possible should be established between all for the purposes of better understanding and for the cause of peace."

The majority of the contributors, while realising fully the folly of war and the commercial depression it brings, seem to bow to the inevitable fact that for the present disarmament is impossible. In an article, entitled "The Aims of Norman Angell," Viscount Esher says:—

"I would ask no fellow-countryman of mine to turn his sword into a ploughshare. I can conceive no greater folly than to allow a single drop of rust upon our national sword. It would be inviting national and European disaster if the sword of England could not be thrown into the international scale, so long as prosperity and happiness, the honour and freedom of nations, are measured by the standards now in vogue. It is to the immortal credit of Norman Angell that he is endeavouring to change those standards."

One of the most interesting and enlightening contributions is that of Professor J. A. Thomson on "The Biology of-War." His argument is briefly as follows:—

"If war be prolonged or frequent, it persistently eliminates the virile, the adventurous, and the brave leaving the less fit to continue the stock. . . . Wars are bad enough at the time, but even worse is the racial deterioration that follows, through the breeding of inferior stock."

The same argument is driven home in Mr. R. M. McIver's article, "War and Imagination."

page 23

Mr. Norman Angell writes on "The Irrelevance of War." His main point is summed up in his own words, thus:—

"The effective forces for the accomplishment of the aims which men desire—whether well-being or the achievement of some moral idea—have shifted from the plane of military force to another. . . . Modern conditions enable us to say that war is irrelevant to the end it has in view."

The titles of other articles may give some idea as to the treatment of the subject throughout the journal—The Futility of War; War and Human Progress; War and Armaments; The Church and the Peace Movement; War and Peace in English Literature.

We should like to see "Concordia" placed in the V.U.C. Library, so that it would be available for all. However much one may disagree with the opinions of some of the writers, there is much food for thought in the articles.