The Criminal War

I am shocked beyond words! (Said the statesman. 'Tis crime That the clamoring herds Should seek war at this time. For a criminal war is sheer folly Subversive to ideals sublime. There are wars that are nice; There are wars that are not. And 'tis seeking with vice That the nations should plot World war when my land is unready. I refuse to consider such rot. My philosophy's clear; My morality, too; Tho' my rivals may sneer At the things that I do. If at present, for me, war's illegal It must be illegal for you! We are human, I trust; And to decency wed. Let's have war, if we must; But at present I dread What crimes may come out of the carnage, If blood be illegally shed. In the past, all along We have cleaved to our creed: We shall fight when we're strong When we're not we still plead Our revulsion to acts homicidal Induced by man's envy and greed. Keep the sword in its sheath; Seek sweet peace for a time, Till, all armed to the teeth, Our meek voices may climb To sue for the blessings of Heaven On butchery, purged of all crime.