Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-18
War PrObabiiities.-IV.

The tenor Of these articles, viz. that his
tory runs in cir, les, and reproduces similar
phenomuns at fixed intervals, is not new
The late Ralph Waldo Emerson announced
il forty wears ago. Mr.. Pafrey hit upon it
empiricallv by noticing a coincidence in New
England history at the end If every - wears
The late Vi,count Beaconsf,l1. being of
Jewish parentage. ~as quite familiar with it,
and addressed his foreign policy directly t.
1t. IL WAS on this ground that he, Tory
favored the Reform Bill Of 1882. With the
ancient Egyptians and Challeans these cir
cles were . matter of every dsv business ard
entered into their civil and religious observ-
ances; hut as they could do no better than
to follow the revolutions OF the solar system
they became superstition.
To affirm that the race of man must live
in . constant broil. not so much through his
own volition, as bv a law of his being sounds
monstrous until We are reminded that the
things which make most etfectuallv tor peace
are precisely those that make for war. This
paradox IL not without many familiar Illus
traiions. The harmless Quaker who de
clared to an unrulv neighbor that he rouid
have peace even if he had to fight for it, hit
the nail on the head. Any individual or
society that tamely submits to outrage will
sooner or later he overw hemed by evil doors.
hence tne utSlne ortkln nl governmental ounu-
ed in the service of public morals. its business
10 to foster them by education, and to establish
them. il need be. nv force of arms. Two
classes of persons, therefore. are most con-
spicuous in history. namely. the teachers and
conQuerers, and they are not 90 far apart a'
might be supposed When people will no
longer be guided by reason, the bavouet will
come into play without much warning. But
X, as is usually the case, the teaching be
false, it enters at once into the organic law.
becomes the center Of vested interests. and.
ct length, an intolerable oppression, to be re-
sisted at every step, and if need be, thrown
of BY revolution. An error of teaching 10
more serious than an error of organization,
because popular error will survive longer
and prove more invetersie. War itself j.
unavailing again.tfxed prsjudices a. is plain
" seen in many States to-day. Secular edu-
cation is q product Of the present century.
and it has demo nstrsted its quality a. an
agent Of civilization beyond all controversy.
But We should bear in mind that the tree of
know ledge is the tree of good and evil.
Those who partske thereof must do 90 un-
derstandingly, for il education and public
virtue do not 60 hand in hand. education will
lose its value to society, and society will lose
its quondam paradise.
While il Is true that the popular drift is
toward peace and good will among all ma
tions, it is equally evident, that few, if any,
Of them have yet reached the rudiments of q
true organization. Economic questions in
volve just this. and nothing more. They
take the State down from its high horse to
inquire into the relation of institutions TO.
and the application of. the doctrine of equal
rights. and its efficacy in securing the means
Of life. liberty and happiness to all liz other
words, it makes of the State q great business
corporation, and the question of how best to
secure employment to labor. the vial issue.
There 10 no mistake about the issue. even
now. and it is one of so much hazard that il
Il cannot be handled rightly, it had better be
let alone.
A business corporation must have gump-
ton enough to take care of its own. That 10
to say, il must secure TO itself every possible
advantage, without giving any, or a. little ~
possible. A government that habitually paws
. heavy interest account abroad, is not free
government, no matter whether the interest
be on bonds or merchandise. protective
policy is therefore defensive policy, and its
effect is to compel the foreigner TO transplant
his business to our shores. Where one sec
tion 10 all cotton, another all corn. and .
third all iron. there 10 no need of collision.
they are equally veil served By the same