The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-08

From Me Iffbuae. .lIAl --r A
We should like to read an essay upon unneces
bary wars. There are good people who will
answer that all wars are unnecessary. We use
an indefinite phrase, howevers to, convey de-
finite meaning. We accept war as necessary
where principle is involved where truth is COM
PEELED to crush error by the force of arms =
where people find it incumbent to struggle
with crime and oppression. BY unnecessary
wars, we refer to the contests arising out of per
sonal yanity-the differences of small military
and naval commanders ambition, cupidity, a
yeaTning for territorial aggrandizement-very
much as though two testy gentlemen get angry
over cup OF wine, or the necessity of some
political action--the minister's last sermon--the
editors last leading article-and from dashing
wine across the tabe-cloth come to swords in
the snte-room, or pistols on the dewy grass in
the outskirts OF the town. No. coed comes of
these quarrels. We occasionally hear of q Ger
man student being killed, for duelling is
said to be as necessary as Euclid to
a German education. In the beginning of this
century the Irish used to cut and slash each
other merely, it seemed, in the way of physi.
cal exhilaTation. II man was killed, a jolly
wake ensued, and the Survivors had good time,
whisky punch and Jig around the coffin, and
'We won't go home till morning." Modern de-
cency has changed all this, and murder is no
longer in the mode no longer an accomplish
ment Merely offering to let man kill you that
you may kill HIM, does not condone murder and
has condemned as wrong among men, public
opinion is condemning as wrong among nations.
There is, perhaps no logical objection to ma
tion fighting another misunderstanding its
ports, destroying it's commerce, paralyZing its
manufactures and killing its people. This is an
independent national right, Just as 1t was an in
dependent personal right for Heenan to thump
Savers, and be thumped IN return, but it is not
moral right. In the case of nations, public
morality is outraged. Peaceful commerce is in
terrupted and destroyed, and where the industry
of enc country depends upon another for its
B0urces of supply, distress ensues to thousands
OF innocent men and women and children.
We can better illustrate our point by referring
to the war between Spain and Chill. Whenever
the Spanish Government makes periodical
start out of the torpldity OF centuries, and an
ambitious statesman wishes to show ''vlgor,o he
makes quarrel with South American repub-
lie. There is popular impression that these
quarrels were settled by the successful revolu.
tions of the early part OF this century-that
Mexico and Peru, and the nations around the
equator, became republics as absolutely as the
United States. This is mistake. Spain never
sincerely admitted the independence of her
American colonies. She gave a deed of separa-
ton, with the reservation that whenever it suited
her convenience or her ambition she would
come back aid take her own again. The dream
of becoming once more the mistress OF the
Antilles, of having an Indies rivalling in wealth
and splendor the Indies of England, has long
haunted the Spaniards. The policy OF Canning,
as represented by PalmersGon, ard the Monroe
doctrine of the United States, prevented any
demonstration in favor of this theory. Our
war gave the opportunity. America crippled,
the banner of CASTLE might again be advanced
to the mountains Balboa climbed, or even
daring thought!-to the land where Ponce de
Leon vainly wooed youth and vigor. San Do
mingo was occupied; an attempt was made upon
Mexico, which Napoleon prevented; war was
forced upon Peru; and now another war has
been declared against Chill. In none of these
cases had Spain any possible preUeXt. What had
Mexico done that Spain should send fleets to
hoarN Sc AI,aa g De-,
that her coast should be blockaded? Above all
things, what is the guilt of Chill? That
country, 1t seems, sympathizes with Peru she
refuses to make her territory base of opera
tions of Spain against a sister republic, and
she is at once blockaded! What Is the
consequence? Chill defes the blockade, closes
her copper mines attacks and captures Spanish
ship, and says if England and France can do
without her "copper" she can wait. England,
fresh from cotton famine in Lancashire, sees
before her famine among the workers in brass
and copper This Chilli sends her $4,000 tons of
copper annually. Because Spain is on q rowing
commission of insult and depreciation, must she
lose all this wealth? So England becomes
angry, and along with France sends word to
Spain that while they do not claim right to
interfere with that neighb boris personal matters,
they do not want the peace of their people, their
comfort and prosperity destroyed, by reason OF
Spanish whim of "honor"
So Spain, brought to her senses, has submitted
her cause to England and France. We presume
there will be an end OF the quarrel. So we trust
all such quarrels may end. Let the nations
come to determination to stop this interna-
tional duelling. Let them do what they can to
lessen the causes of war-or rather, to restrict
the international limits OF war. Such wars as
that in Mexico, the recent strife in Scheswig-
Holstein, and the wars in Peru and Chilli, should
be speedily suppressed by general understand
ing. We can soonest reach the bright consum
nation OF universal peace by preventing inter
national duelling.
Rac;Drocstv-A Ouestion for C,oDsidara@ioD