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COLLE

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THE PROTECTIONIST

A Monthly Magazine of Political Science
and Industrial Progress.

Signed articles are not to be understood as expressing the views of the editor or publishers,

VOL. XXXI.

MAY, 1919.

No. I

They Ask For Peace.

By Frank M. Dazey,

Formerly First Lieutenant Field Artillery, A. E. F.

Ye learned men who sit in high debate.
Round the green table, with a world your state;
Each day you meet, listen with dignity
As statesman follows statesman with his plea
Of ancient treaties, economic pacts,

Of boundaries, commerce; and you weigh the facts
Most skilfully; so skilfully, indeed,

The marshalled facts quite balance and you need
Still further "experts" who in turn prolong
Your final judgment, lest ye may judge wrong.
Oh, open ye the doors, the windows to your hall!
Hear one more voice, the mighty voice of all

This weary, war-stained Earth, which crieth "Cease,
We want no further arguments, just Peace!"

Or, if ye cannot hear the living tell,

The gates are barred, the censors function well;
Then can ye not detect a solemn, dread,
Imperious summons from the soldier dead?
Theirs was the victory. Its price they paid.
And can you answer them if, too delayed,
Your haggled bargains bring more bitter wars-
Ally 'gainst ally, class 'gainst class, and more,
Comrade 'gainst comrade! Perhaps my spirit raves

I feel a stirring in those shallow graves.

I fought with them. For them I ask surcease,

These men have died for you! Haste, grant them Peace!