Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-15
els War Gradually Dying Ont -,


There are some reasons for hoping that war is
gradually dying out. We have not for some
time had commercial wars like those between
England and Holland in the seventeenth century,
nor are we likely to have them again, except
on small scale and with barbarous nations,
such as China, or with the petty potentates of
Africa. Wars in support of the claims of dynas-
ties such as that of the Spanish succession, and
alleged litigatiOns between monarchies about
their rights to provinces in Italy or Germany,
such as filled the eighteenth century, are also
numbered with the past. There are general
influences which tend in the same direction.
The people. formerly food for powder are now
getting votes, which regard for their own
lives and for the enjoyment of their wages. if
not larger philosophy, will lead them commonly
to use in favor of peace Science is at once render
ing war fearfully expensive and divesting it
of the glitter and romance by which. after all, it
in some measure lived. Perhaps the sight of
the North American continent, so organized
under the federal system as to maintain peace
within its precincts, and thus reaping the I'M
taxed fruits Of industry, may not be without it's
effect on the rest OF the world. On the other
hand, neither revolutionary wars nor wars Of
nationality appear by any means to be at an
end. German nationality is yet hardly settled,
and may have to be once more defended against
French jealousy and revenge. SlavonIc nation
ality is question evidently fraught with dis
turbance and with the possibilities of collisions
between great powers. Revolutionary anarchy
may again give birth to military despOtism. the
fell necessities Of which were proved by the
career OF the military despot who began by pro-
Claiming. perhaps not insincerely, and certainly
In accordance with his personal interest, that
his empire was peace. Conquest itself. and di-
piomatic struggles for ascendancy, have not vet
ceased to trouble; witness Afghanistan, Tunis.
and Egypt. The craters of communistic volca-
noes at Paris and Cartagena still smoke, and
other eruptions may be at hand. The mere bur
den OF the military system, when it becomes in
tolerable may lead some power to rush to arms
as the only means of breaking long deadlock
OF ruin. On the pacific influence Of commerce
rather too much reliance has been placed ma
tons, like men, are as often governed by their
temper as by their interests; moreover. free
trade does not gain ground. nor is it possible
that 1t should gain ground while the import du-
ties are needed to maintain vast ornaments.
Arbitration makes way. but its sphere is obvi-
0usly limited; legal questions such as that of
liability Tor the damage done by the Alabama,
or difference about q boundary. it
may settle at least II the wrath of the parties is
not violently excited; In questions of national
Independence or ambition such as those which
he'd to the Italian and Franco German wars, it is
pOwerless. Apart from specific causes of quar-
rel, the war spirit as well as the hunter instinct
still fingers in the breast of man. Nor is opin-
ION nrmly settled even In quarters where we
should expect it to be so. The free Christian
churches may be reckoned as steady opponents
OF war. but state churches still worship the god
Of battles. In de Maistre we find hideous
passage describing the earth as vast altar on
which sacrifices OF human blood must forever be
offered by the swords and If Canon Motley, in
his Sermon on War;" does not go so far as this,
he does In effect almost renounce for his form of
religion the hope of effectually preaching peace
on earth.-GOtdaclD Smith, in Nineeesath Century