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“Look then into thine heart and write”
—Voices of the Night |
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If this book has any distinguishing characteristic, the writer believes that
its assumption that the people of all countries are fundamentally good and
lovable is that characteristic.
The writer believes that rarely, if ever, are war ring nations conscious of
guilt, even though it may be the case that all belligerents are acting like
Bedlam turned loose. If in time of war any citizen of a belligerent country
preserves his sanity, he had better not let anyone know about it. If he
stands out against the tide of public opinion, his name will be anathema
throughout the length and breadth of the land, and he will find small
consolation in the fact that some day, if he lives long enough, he will be
better understood.
This is the contention of Sir Norman Angell, as I understand what he has
written on the subject. If, as he contends, all wars are based on misunderstanding,
and not on conscious guilt, what utter Stupidity it is that they should be
permitted to continue!
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8 PEREGRINATIONS.
I recognize the fact that there is no probative force in the expression of
an opinion, either Sir Norman’s, mine or any other person’s. The question
is: Is there good, sound reason back of it, and if so, what is it I will
state one. I have lived long enough to have heard people of many countries,
including my own, condemned as murderers and out. laws. No epithet of
opprobrium has been sufficient iy scathing to express the frenzied feeling
of enemy nations, but frenzies eventually wear themselves out and time
reveals mischievous misunderstanding.
I have talked many times with countrymen of mine, who have lived long in
foreign countries, which have come under the ban of public opinion in
American and elsewhere, and to those who have lived long in such countries
and know the people intimately, there is always the same verdict and that is
that they are all good.
I am fully conscious of the fact that the opinion above expressed is not in
harmony with the majority opinion of the people of this age. I presume that
some will conclude that such thought could only enter the mind of an
impracticable dreamer who has had little opportunity to observe. Whether or
not I can be truthfully classed as an impracticable dreamer I leave for
others to determine if their interest carries them that far, but as to my
having had little opportunity to observe, I will say that in the name of
Rotary I have visited hundreds of cities on all five continents, and as a
rule have spent more time in each country than the average tourist. I
FOREWORD. 9
have been privileged to meet thousands of citizens, high and low; from
members of royal families and presidents of republics, down to the most
humble citizens, and while my opinion may be a minority opinion among those
who have not had similar experiences, it is, I am convinced, the majority
opinion of those who have had such experiences. If I am a dreamer, so also
are nearly all others who have had equal opportunity to inform themselves.
The undertone of this book is in harmony with the so-called fourth object of
Rotary International, which reads as follows: “To encourage the advancement
of international understanding, good will and peace through a world
fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.”
The writer submits that none of the objects of Rotary is of higher pitch;
none higher would be audible to human ears.
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