THE NEED OF COWARDICE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3136, 25 September 1922, Page 8

THE NEED OF COWARDICE.

(15v Cicely Hamilton). Mr Fisher, at the opening meeting of*the Peace Congress, and Mr Gai sworthy advocating re.um.ciaturn of the conquest of the air have both o then suggested, at least by implication, that the human being is essentia ly and awavs a, fighting animal—whose teeth must be drawn and whose claws must he elipped. lest he inflict too much damage on the rare. And it may be that the peace movement ot the immediate future will concentrate chiefly on the line of action they have indicated; recognising frankly that .humanity can no more change its "ist.ncts than the leopard its: spots and that the hest hope of reasonable security lies in limitation of the power to inlliet injury. Limitation of armament is no iiovv item in the pacifist programme; hut the day is coming has perhaps already romc—when limitation ot armament will mean something Iras simple than reduction in guns, ships and men. A. hespectaeled chemist so he had enough hniins -might he worth many regiments to the side that employed him, and do far more damage than a battleship. Hence, in the very near luture. the phrase "limitation ol armament" mav bo read as meaning limitation of certain kinds of knowledge: the dangerous knowledge that places it m t| u , power of an angry or thoroughly frightened community to let loose an orgy of massacre. To nintiv perhaps to the hest and linesl of us the idea ol such a renunciation of the treasure- ol the 1iu- „,.,„ ,„i„d seems treasonable, almost, unthinkable; Mr Council O Hlonian, in the Daily Chronicle, has denounced it as coward.lv and he may he absolutely right! Iml what he and the other brave souls forget is that fear an intelligent fear of conse(|iienccshas always been a factor ill human institutions and progress. Foresight, and precaution are offspring of intelligent fear; and all lasting institutions have hcen moulded with'foresight and precaution. Ycrv certainly fear which we may hope is intelligent is working to-day in the race: we are beginning I" be afraid of the knowledge and achievements which once seemed entirely admirable. It is tear cowardice, il you will that is opening our eyes to the uncomfortable fact that science is as likelv to destroy the world as to save it ; and which goes on to suggest that. if we are to be saved and not destroyed by cuv knowledge, we must handle it like other useful possessions with foresight and careful precaution. I'Yar. in itself, is no wisdom, but H may be the beginning ol wisdom il i f sets, us thinking earofttlh and hard : ami there are times il may he. in the history of the race when cowardice is almost a virtue al any rate, il not a virtue, it is something like a necessity. If I here is aii\ l ruth in !nslor\. the race has survived not oiil\ b\ virtue of its courage, it litis survived because courage, as "a general rule has served the ends of humdrum desire for security.