Or course, the one apparently strong and valid argument to be brought
against economic pressure is that it would bring great loss to the
commerce of the nations applying it. But that loss would be far less
than the loss brought by war. And there would be no loss whatever if
war were avoided. Still to the automobile factories in these great Lake
Cities, working over time on war contracts, to the farmer enchanted with
the magic of “dollar wheat” and to those especially affected by mounting
export balances an economic pressure that resulted in smaller trade may
seem an astonishing measure to adopt. But ask the cotton growers who had
their market cut from under them by war; consider the virtual moratorium
in this country when the exchanges closed, bringing an incalculable loss
in shrinkage in security values and affecting all business; consider
the industrial survey made in New York and other cities during the past
winter showing that unemployment had increased threefold; listen to the
poignant human appeal from our Charity Organizations; at least one must
grant that the shield of Mars has two sides. And it has always had two
sides. But the burnished side is not that which reflects the ghastly
image of war.