The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-10
zee to peace: they supordrnare every inter

zee TO peace. they subordinate every inter
est and advantage to war. And the people
have to pay fer what only Expresses them,
retards their advancement and adds to
their unhappiness What the armies
should he ana could be, on vastly re-
duced scale, is an agency for preserving or
der and sustaining law. They should act,
in word as body of police, defensively,
not Extensively, and would thus be beDe-
fit instead OF an evil to the state. When
smaller power or any power should trans
gress the principles of customs of civiliza-
ton, as Russia is now doing. they should
treat it as a mob; read the riot act, and II
it did not dispense they should attack 1t
by authority with the most formidable
weapons they could command. This IS
what our militia is designed and trained
for mainly. 1t is called out when the or
binary police IS too weak TO put down any
civil disorder. Such disorder now pre-
walls, and has long prevailed in Russia,
and the armies of civilized Europe should
ouell it at all hazards. in accordance with
the spirit of the Nineteenth century.
1t is a burning shame and disgrace TO
the nations that civilization should look,
however Indignantly, at the dreadful spec
tacle of a country, containing hundred
millions OF people, the bulk of them al
ways suffering from penury, famine, dis
ease, excessive taxation, political harass-
ment, due directly to the governing classes,
without lifting voice or hand TO interpose
between the oppressorS and the oppressed
What is the use Of a civilization that does
not enforce, when it can, the laws and re-
quirements of civilized society What are
great armies worth. if they will not pro-
tect the weak, disarm the robber, restrain
the cruel, drive back the savage? We all
know that they are principally supported
and allowed to fatten ON the poor, that
the privileged may still prosper, and that
kings and kaisers may be kept on their tot
tering thrones We all know, too, that it il
principle of international law not to inter
NEEDLE with the domestic affairs of an
alien state. But when any statewide
claiming, like Russia, to be civilized-de-
fes honesty, justice, truth, every virtue
and wholesome precedent, ought not her
domestic affairs" to be invaded and de-
stroyed? If any country, nomlnally bar
barous, but really no more barbarous than
she, should do as she has done for years,
would not the great powers wax suddenly
righteous and conscientious, and suppress
its capacity for further mischief?
1t is the size and strength of Russia that
render them tolerant OF her extreme iniqui-
ties, and irretrievably confound their
moral ideas. The body of the Russian
people err from ignorance and superstition.
They are scarcely blameworthy or response
BILE for their defects. 1t is the ruling and
privileged classes, the peoples worst foes,
who have earned infamy and excited hor-
ror throughout the world. The govern
ment primarily is the author of the crimes
daily committed everywhere in that broad
domain. Until that has been changed or
extiDguished there is no hope of amend
ment. The nihilists, few in number but
ideally dauntless, heroically self sacrific-
ing, are steadily paving the way to political
redemption. They adore Russia, but de-
test its rulers.
The duty Of civilization is clear, but who
has faith that it will be performed?
JUNIUS HENRI BRowNE.