they set
out to take them.

Now confusing this character of the war with some sort of rational
dispute about something, the pacifists try in every way to stop it,
so that the "issue" may be reasoned out, debated, discussed,
negotiated. Surely the President tried to reach peace--tried as
hard and as long as the people would allow him. The Germans argued
away time with him while they got their submarine fleet built. Then
they carried out the programme they had always had in mind and had
never thought of abandoning. Now they wish to gain more time, to
slacken the efforts of the Allies, if possible to separate them by
asking for "discussions"--peace by "negotiation." When you are
about to kill the robber, he cries out, "For God's sake, let's
discuss the question between us. We can come to terms."--Now here's
where the danger comes from the philosophical pacifist--from any
man who does not clearly understand the nature of the war and of
the enemy. To discuss the difference between us is so very
reasonable in sound--so very reasonable in fact if there were a
discussable difference. It is a programme that would always be in
order except with a burglar or a robber.

The yet imperfect understanding of the war and of the nature of the
German in the United States, especially at Washington--more
especially in the White House--herein lies the danger.

... This little rest down here is a success. The weather is a
disappointment--windy and cold. But to be away from London and away
from folks--that's much. Shoecraft is very good[66]. He sends us
next to nothing. Almost all we've got is an invitation to lunch
with Their Majesties and they've been good enough to put that off.
It's a far-off country, very fine, I'm sure in summer, and with
most beautiful golf links. The hill is now so windy that no sane
man can play there.

We're enjoying the mere quiet. And your mother is quite well again.

Affectionately,

W.H.P.

To Mrs. Charles G. Loring
St. Ives, Cornwall,
March 10, 1918.

DEAR KITTY:

A week here. No news. Shoecraft says we've missed nothing in
London. What we came for we've got: your mother's quite well. She
climbs these high hills quite spryly. We've had a remarkable week
in this respect--we haven't carried on a con