The national Republican., 1867-05-28
A GENERAL DISARMAMENT IN
EUROPE.

EUROPE.
When the rebellion collapsed, and
GRANTS and SnERxAS's great armies re-
turned to be disbanded, and marched in
GRAND REVIEW through the streets and ave-
nues Of the national capital, among the
spectators on the occasion was Sir FRED
ERIcK Bruce, Minister Plenipotentiary and
Envoy Extraordinary from her Britannia
Majesty's dominions, who, after witnessing
the imposing spectacle, wrote to his Gov.
ernment in words like these al have sat
for two whole days, till l am weary Of
looking, upon the remnant Of the great
American army, as II has passed in re-
view"
Such another scene was never before
witnessed in the world. A great army of
q quarter of million Of men coming
flushed from victorious battle-felds, to be
quietly mustered from the service, and to
resume again the peaceful avocations Of
life, without complaint and without dis
turbance, and even to take up again their
old and various employments with alacrity
and delight Such another exhibition Of
the disbanding Of great armies the world
never saw. What wonder, then, that this
impressive lesson is being felt in the Old
World-that Great Britain is the first
power to move in imitation Of our example?
1t has been announced that the English
Government has formally urged upon the
Governments of Europe general disarma-
ment. II this be true, it marks q step to-
wards universal peace that the most san
guine believer in the doctrines Of the Peace
Society little dreamed Of while our san
culinary conflict was going on. Will it
not be a remarkable overruling Of Divine
Providence if, out Of our war and by it,
God shall teach the nations wisdom, and
thus make the wrath Of man to praise
Him, and establish the peaceful reign Of
the Son of God. But we did not take our
pen to write an essay on peace only to
indicate few significant signs that the
world moves, and that America, in war
as well as in peace, is giving the nations
great and important lessons, the influence
Of which is beginning to be felt.
England moves for disarmament. Let
US see what such a recommendation, if
adopted, would do for Europe. There is
probably from a million aud half to two
millions Of men armed to the teeth in Eu-
rope to-day to support and keep alive the
peace establishments Of the different ma
tions; and then there may be added to
these thousands more who are constantly
engaged in the manufacture of arms and
ammunition and other materials that are
to keep alive and feed these vast armies.
Could all this be withdrawn; could all the
wealth squandered to maintain these es-
tablishments be saved to the people, what
change would come over the nations
Suppose these millions Of men now en-
gagged in these unproductive and destructive
labors could be turned to other and i'm
portant labors could be enlisted in the
productive interests Of the European ma
tions, what a change would come over the
people And why cannot all this be
doneH The philanthropist and the Chris.
tian will say it can; and will not the
statesmen respond and see to it that it is
done? We trust it will be found that the
English statesmen have moved in earnest
in this work-that great people must be
the pioneers and missionaries in these i'm
portant reforms in Europe.
The only man in Europe who stands by
his position and movements directly in op-
position to the work of disarmament is
LOUIS NAPOLEON Some dozen years ago
he began the work Of building ships Of war
and iron.clads, and making other warlike |
demonstrations. He said that he must do |
those things in selfdefence. The other
Powers Of Europe did not believe him,
simply because they had no disposition to
essail him. They did believe, however,
that he meant harm to them and hence
they armed too. Vast sums OF money
have been spent by these nations in prep
arations of war, out of fear that NAPOLEON
LII could not be trusted; that he was seek
ing to circumvent the nations and thus de-
stroy the balances Of power in Europe,
and thereby aggrandize himself,
Now, therefore, il II be really true that
Great Britain has moved in this matter,
and NAPOLEON will give his assent to the
good work of disarmament, the other ma
tions will soon follow, and thus peace may
yet really achieve greater victories than
all the renowned exploits Of war have ever
been able to accomplish.