New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-19

One trouble about war is that IN only rare
instances do the people who have TO pay the cost
of it have any idea what it is about until 1t IS
all over, and then they see that not only nothing
has been gained by it, but that 1T might have
been easily avoided. The course OF the stock
market indicates that capital, which Is the most
sensitive as well as the most important factor In
the relations of States, has taken sudden alarm
over the possibility of rupture with Chill. mat
its sensitiveness is without sense is PLAIN enough
TO any one who considers for moment that the
stocks which went off in the market most posi-
lively were those of the transcOntinental railroad
companies which in the ordinary course OF events
would most profit by war which would bring
to them the increased traffic arising from war
with one of the Pacific Coast republics Still
the simple circumstance that the market has been
affected by rlimors of disturbance of or peace
full relations with sister South American re-
public is in itself sufficient to direct general at
tention to the situation in that regard. 1t means
that in the minds of men there is such posi-
bility Of strained relations resulting in open war
that it has to be taken into account in the cal
culations of men who mean to take no risks in
their investments.
We see no reason, Notwithstanding the fuctua-
tons in the stock market, why there should be
war. The traditions of THE TRIBUNE are
peace loving. To any one who knows them 1t
is unnecessary to say that they are not cowardly.
Its instincts are for peace for peace In Just as
broad a sense as it was ever advocated by Mr..
Bright or Mr. Gladstone, but not in the sense IN
which the prepossessiOns Of these gentlemen for
a quiet life as described by Kinglabe hindered
them from standing up in support OF great
cause. Our view is that the relations between
nations, great or small, are and ought to be the
same as between gentlemen. And gentleman is
term that should be considered as meaning
something between nations, as well as between
individuals when they find themselves losing
their temper. Among gentlemen quite new
rule has arisen in the last thirty years thirty
wears ago or more it was considered the proper
mark of gentleman to rise up upon point OF
difference and signify willingness to settle the
question in what was called the " field OF honor"
from which one person was taken dead to home
that could never be restored and made good, and
the other went away with a conscience that could
never afterward be free from Iemorse. That IS
all there was to the field Of honor all there was
10 that method Of settling differences OF opln-
ion There was a time when that sort OF thing
was reduced once for all to the I" ad absurdum."
1t was when Congressman Potter, Of Wiscon-
sin, proposed to an eminent person who had not
then seen the folly of duellng TO sit in front OF
him on a bench and conclude the matter in dis
pute with bowie knives.
Between this country and Chill there is no
question whatever except such as can be settled
by two gentlemen sitting at 4 table And the
gentleman sitting at one side Of it need say moth
ing except when the other gentleman has told
his story, simply to ask "Wel all this being
said, what do You think would be your due as a
gentleman? Here are differences of view; to
settle them should you say that on the whole
we owe you an apology or do you owe us one%'
Then what? Well there is this to be taken into
accounts that a well-bred gentleman with sense
of honor that stands alone and does not need to
have tributes paid to it by anybody can afford
to submit 10 sights or disrerpcct from anybody
who Is angry, but who cannot strike successfully
from the shoulder Or ring the bell with pistol
And between nations, what? Nothing but this :
that nation really great does not permit itself
to lose its temper-but waits. 1t does not like
to be jostled in the procession or insulted on its
way. but it does not let itself into quarrel upon
mere pretexts. The main quality the staying
quality of great nation, is that it is not easily
disturbed in its temper; that 1t stands for peace
The next quality-always second; always
subordinate-is, that when it is pushed beyond
endurance, it fights