Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE TRISTIC. v I n

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a purely philosophical standpoint. It is an axiom of philoso- phers that a good end never justifies a bad means. Just as such an end never justifies such a m.eans, neither does such a motive; this is an accepted doctrine of philosophers. No mat- ter how good or beneficial the end to be attained, or how upright and holy the motive which actuates the deed, if the means we employ are bad, then we are prohibited from acting. Hence, as war is a means, no matter how good the motive which actuates it, or how uplifting the end to be attained, all that is necessary to show it offends against the teachings of philosophy is to prove that it is a bad means. But, ladies and gentlemen, from the arguments advanced already this evening, have we not done this? We have seen that it is against jus- tice, that it violates the moral law and disregards the teachings of Christ : and what greater proof could we ask to show that it is a bad means and hence unreasonable — for reason should be the very rock upon which philosophy is founded. There is one case, however, when war is not ethically wrong : namely, in the case of unjust aggression. When a man forci- bly enters our house we are allowed to use armed resistance, for the intruder is an unjust aggressor and our existence is threatened. However, as we have endeavored to show through- out, that the same law which binds men also applies to nations, we must remain consistent. The same law applies to nations ; hence if one nation finds itself the object of unjust aggression, it is allowed to use armed resistance. In this case alone it was justifiable. In conclusion let me say that lasting peace eventually de- pends upon the following conditions: INTERNATIONAL PEACE CANNOT BE HAD UNLESS THERE IS PEACE IN EACH NATION; NATIONAL PEACE IS IMPOSSI- BLE WITHOUT PEACE IN EACH STATE IN THAT NATION; PEACE IN THE STATE DEPENDS UPON PEACE IN EACH UNIT OF THE STATE, OR THE HOME AND FAMILY; PEACE IN THE HOME IS AB- SURD WITHOUT PEACE IN EACH INDIVIDUAL HEART— AND THIS, MY FRIENDS, SUPPOSES A SPIRIT OF TRUER CHARITY, GREATER LOVE, FOR OUR FELLOW MEN, AND A CLOSER APPROACH TO GOD. (21)

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3’m aii (Eonigl)!. I’m sad tonight — Aglow on high, wan planets dog the moon, And tortured winds my open shutter rack, And vainly beat, like madding seas against The myriad corals’ tiny sepulchres. Below the ghastly conclave of the clouds. That solemn roll, so phantom-like and gray They rave and beat — as beats my heart tonight, Against the ghastly thought that tears my breast. — For I am sad tonight. I’m sad tonight — O sad ! so sad and drear ! — and awesome strains, Like those stupendous planet choirs, to mate A-down illimit realms of void; as sobs The mighty sea, when ’round his vasty heart The ice-pack grips — sobs he and ble nds his wail With the moaning dirge of the fleeting wind above. That mute white faces fathoms deep behold Of sailor lads — these strains my heart-beats sing, — For I am sad tonight. I’m sad tonight— All nature wails with me ; as plaints the bird That sees the snow-cloud hide the cherished nest Of offspring fledged, alas! too late; as sobs The cage-pent desert lion, head twixt paws. While far on free Iberian plains his mate God-speeds her plaintive lonely call to him That stirs his mighty heart — Oh! friend, mock not. For desolation gnaws my soul — weep, too. For I am sad tonight. Ralph J. Sybert, ’i6. (23)