Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-11-24
For Peace or War.

LIE CROWN Oh lHucFudUlOnal dfOl-
tratiOn has not been as rapid as the
friends Of peace were at one time led
to hope. In spite Of arguments and
practical examples the United States
and Great Britain are almost alone in
their adhesion to the principle. The
other nations still hold to the stern
and tested policy of getting what
they can by individual bargaining,
and fighting when they cannot agree.
The advantages of arbitration are
easy to be understood. TO say moth
ing of avoiding the slaughter of good,
productive citizens, the financial adj
vdntageS are almost wholly on the
side of peace. Napoleon was mas
ter hand at robbery and believed full
ly in the maxim OF living off the
enemy, yet in spite of all the money
raised by taxation in France and the
countries appropriated by France the
debt had increased from ia, 900, 600
francs to 1,272, 900, 900 francs at the
end of the fifteen years Of NapOlcon's
government. This was, to be sure, a
small increase, considering the fight
ing that was done, but when even the
ruthless policy Of Napoleon could not
make war at the expense of the con-
quered no other may hope to be sue
cessful Germany came nearest to it
by collecting 5000, 10000 francs of
France and taking Alsace and Lor-
raine as the prize Of the war OF 1870,
but the cost of the war in money and
CT;
tailed in the enormous military es-
Enlistment necessary to hold the
provinces have made it a dear bar
gain.
The expenses OF a war are great.
In most cases the return is nothing.
The cOmbatants become exhausted,
and after spending their blood and
money come to more or less friend
ly agreement and settle their differ
ences on terms that might have been
had without fighting.
When the United States and Great
Britain came near going to war over
the Alabama claims the whole amount
in dispute was 500, 600, 900. If they
had fought the whole amount in dis
DulC HOulli HuNC DCClI NDCIU III lilill-
tary preparations before blow was
struck and both sides would have
spent ten times that amount a year
till the war closed. Arbitration in
that case saved hundreds of millions
of dollars and thousands Of lives to
each side, and the result was hon
orab,e if not satisfactory to both
c;I ic thot Nrr1or6 fn1t
sore that the award went against her
not for the Sl5. 500, 900, for she
would have willingly spent a hun
dred times that amount in defending
her dignity, but for the fact that she
was declared to be in the wrong. But
whatever disappointment was felt
both countries have found the pro-
ccedings so sensible that they are
settling the Behring Sea dispute in
the same manner.
Other countries, however, show no
intention of laying aside the sword
for the legal argument. 1t may dc
we'll enough for kindred countries or
in cases where the disparity Of power
is so great us to make war ridiculous.
But between blood enemies it finds
no favor. Germany faces her armies
toward the French and Russian
frontiers: Austria-Hungary watches
for the Cossack camp fires; France
snarls at England's stay in Egypt,
and all the powers are ready to fly at
one another's Threats as soon as some
accident shall start fight in any
quarter. There is no thought Of
arbitration, and apparently nothing
to arbitrate.
Possibly after the next great con-
flict the other powers will see the adj
vantages of settling their differences
peaceably, but it does not look as
though they would come to that mind
until they have experienced again the
full disadvantages Of war.