The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-03-20
rs BARBARISM A NECESSITY,

rs BARBARISM a EFCESSITYs
Now that the affairs of European
nations have become complicated, and
there are symptoms of a general war,
some news papers are congratulating
the people on the advantages which
will accrue to the trade and commerce
| of this country by such an event.
They tell US the present Expressions of
trade would be speedily removed and
the low price of our agricultural pro-
ducts would at once have an upward
tendency in the market. Our surplus
-four, beef and pork would find ready
sale at;remunerative prices. 1t is true
that much of these so-called pecuniary
advantages might be realized. When
thousands of able-bodied men in any
country leave the lands uncultivated
and go into the fight. the genera. sup
| ply of food is diminished, and CORES
ponding demand created. So the stop
page of manufactures by the presence
OF war diminishes the supply. and the
deficiency must be made up from coun-
tries at peace. War enhances prices
and necessarily the cost Of living,
therefore is of no benefit to consumers,
but may be to producers.
It is "a sad picture of our modern
civilization that requires the sacrifice
| of human life on the field of battle
every few decades to revive the activ-
| ity of trade. It is fearful price to
pay for business reyivals to resort to
barbarism to make commerce flourish
ling. Most wars for the settlement of
differences between civilized nations
| are ayoidable. 1t is as possible for
nations to adjust conflicting interests
by arbitrament as for individuals.
This method of settling national dis
putes has been discussed in this coun
try and in England for the last twenty
years, ard no formidable objection has
been found to Congress Of nations to
formulate a plan. Mr.. Blaine, as
Secretary of State, and President Ar
thur have both brought to the atten-
ton of Congress the desirabillty of
bringing the governments of North
land South America into an agreement
to settle all differences that may arise
by some plan of arbitration. A resort
to war is no certain settlement of a
lquestion of right; it gives the victory
to the stronger, although justice may
be on the side of the weaker. Two
men dispute the ownership to q piece
of property; they conclude to fight, in
stead of taking their case to the courts
1t becomes then test of physical
violence, but determines no question
of moral or legal right
| People may reason as they will
about the benefits of war; the indis-
putable fact still remains. war is q
demoralizer; it depopulates and makes
more room, but that is for the worse.
It takes out of the living the best ele-
ment of the population; the strong,
the healthy. the men in the prime of
life are enlisted in the war; the weak.
| the feeble. the aged and those untitled
i for physical endurance are left behind.
There might be some compensation in
war if it swept off the vicious and the
lprof1igate, but such is not the result.
The thieves, the gamblers and the in
dolent are not apt to enlist in the army
they prefer an easier life. and stay at
| home to infest society. 1t will be a
| long remembered fact. that in the
ranks Of the many thousand who en-
| lis ted in defence of the Union from
Wisconsin. how largely the regiments
were composed of the flower of oul
populatlon-the young nobility of the
state. Such depletion of the ranks Of
1.-The people of the most valuable Gle
ment is calamitous, and weakens sths
best institutions of society. Better fol
the interests of humanity that the PEG
| pie of this country should forego the
| supposed advantages of a European
war than seek to profit by the slaugh
| ter of thousands of able-bodied men,
and bring untold sufferings on multi
tudes of innocent women and children
| A desire for war between civilized
nations for mere pecuniary profit is
| unjustiiable, and ought no. to be in
| dulged.