San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-12-16
The Question OF Disarmament.

house ofcommons, looking TO the dis
armament OF Europe, has served to
show that the principles of democracy
are fast becoming rooted in Europe.
Twenty years ago such n motion would
have been treated with ridicule. Now
it il conceded that the evil which Mr..
Richard attacked is worthy Of after
ton. Mr.. Richards position is that
the ornaments sustained by the con
tinental powers are standing men
ace to peace and a standing injury TO
labor The truth OF the premises, 80
far as labor is concerned, was admit
ted by Mr.. Richards opponents, but
the force OF the arguemcnt, so fur us
peace is concerned, was denied on the
ground that nation in arms is the
best possible security against unnec-
essary wars. This has always been a
fayorite plea of military depots. Why
those costly wars, if not to satisfy the
aggressive spirit of royalty, u spirit
which in it's very nature is antagonlshc
to the welfare of the subject The
Austrian and Russian farmers, trades
men. mechanical laborers, who consti-
tute 95 per cent, of the population OF
their respective countries, possess
nothing that is calculated to kind!e
national animosities. Yet when their
emperors feel ike fighting one another
it is only necessary fof them to give
the signal, and these wretched subjects
are forced to go forth TO murder and
be murdered. "The real safeguard
against unnecessary wars, as MI
Richards puts it, sizes in the means
width people possess of making 3her
indisposition TO them felt by then
rulers. II is the control which ma
ton in It's civil capacity exercises over
its rulers, and not the strength OF Its
army, that furnishes the best safeguard
against war" The relative power OF
European nations for purposes Of de-
Tense and aggression is no greater
with their able .bodicdmcni IN the fed,
armed with improvedrihes and cannon,
than it would be if they were allowed
to pursue the peaceful avocatlons OF
civil life; for when any one OF those
nations shows its paint Gndwarteath
ers all the rest follow suit. Ii France
had disalmcd at the suggestion Of MIR.
Golden in 1851, tho Franco-Frussian
war would never have taken place. 1t
is true that had it not been for the
sudden enlargement of the German
army, Germany would not have been
reconstructed; but in o condition OF
univcrsalpeace unthreatenedby stand
inc armies and unburdened by
taxation, it is probably that the Ger
man subject would posses more OF all
that contributes TO human enjoyment
, to day under the confederation than
he can in enforced military seryitudo
with the sole compensation of know
inc that ho is better prepared to win
in a trial Of strength involving one OF
the worst relics 81 barbarisln. The
only argument that can reasonably be
- advanced in favor Of those costly arma-
y, ments is that they are necessary as a
security against civil wal and internal
> disorder. They are unquestlonabiy
i Indispensable tortho preservation OF
5 those systems of government which
are conseclntcd, SO to speak, tolnisrule
and oppression In this contest IN
parliament on thoquestion OF disarma-
, monL Mr.. Richard may boreGarded as
r. the advocate OF that confYatenity OF
e oppressed Europeans, happily gaining
, strength with enlightment, who favor
. II republic of nations whose motto
- shall be peace and good will for al'
o and the welfare and happiness Of all.
. Galveston News.