--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Kelly, Blanche M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 5 published: 1917-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Blanche M. Kelly, "Militarism: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 5 (March 1917): 425.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2005unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2005unse start_page: 425 end_page: 425 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2005unse publication_year: 1917 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Militarism: A Poem THE ETHICS OF WAR 425 to suspicion and finally hatred. We, who call ourselves Latterday Saints, should remember that a great responsibility rests on our shoulders. To us alone has been shown the true plan or purpose of life, and if we fail in our duty we shall have no one but ourselves to blame, if we are cast out on the great day of reckoning. We must begin by dropping any racial prejudice we may have; and regard all peoples, whether white, black, brown, yellow or red, as members of one great human family, God who gave them life. all equally dear to the great The present war looks to me like the beginning of the end — a preparation for the great Millennium. All Europe, in my opinion, will be involved before it is over, and all Europe will suffer, for all Europe is wicked. Turkey will be overthrown, making it possible for the Jews to gather back to Palestine and to build up Jerusalem, so that the prophecy, "the law shall go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem," mav be fulfilled. There may be a lull in the storm, but if so, it will break out worse than ever. Let me express the opinion that, after the nations have done fighting each other, the common people, having to carry a burden which they have not been ac- — customed to, for the national debts of the respective countries will be told in eleven and twelve figures, — will rise in rebellion, and turn upon their leaders, whom they will accuse of misleadin and robbing them. This will most likely be preceded by bitter quarrels amongst the nations who are now faithful allies. The final chapter of their history will likely be a repetition of what took place on the American Continent centuries ago for details of which the reader is referred to the history of the Nephites and Lamanites in the Book of Mormon. Soda Springs, Idaho Militarism By Blanche M. Kelly "Peace, peace; and there is no peace." Not at my ease in the tent nor adream in the hall, Not with my sword at my thigh and my lance at rest, But full in the shock of the fray on the field let me fall, With the Conqueror's voice in my ears, and my eyes on His crest Where the horses flounder and plunge and the captains shout, And the Conqueror rides in the van on His stallion white; Whether I fall in the breach or go down in the rout, Let there be neither parley nor truce, let me die in the fight. —Selected.