New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-19
wARsUIpS ARE NOT HARBINGERS OF PEACE


TO the EDITOR OF The Tribune.
Sir: The recent week Of festivities In and about
York har,or has been very generally characterized
bv the press Of the country fitting international
prelude 10 the Columbian Exposition. The pageantry
OF the naval review and parade has been represented
and cxtoed as an ojcctlcsson In the fraternity OF
nations in every way wholesome and stimulating.
Indeed the universal sentiment Of the hour seems
In be- the gorlncation Of ourselves in our new Navy,
and IN. pride with which can compare the beauty.
strength and effectiveness Of the White Fleet with
that Of the grim foreign warShIs that have visited
our Shores Surely there IS an diverse to the
medal Notwithstanding Captain Mahan's patriotic
speech nj the Quill Club dinner. cannot but feel
that much can be said regarding the danger lurking
behind the smoke din and nu,ering banners Of the
recent naval display. To my mind there Is n great
deal Of false education In the maritime glories re-
Gently witnessed In Hampton Roads and Ncw-fork
harl-or especially the youth OF the country who
have not mastered the philosophy Of history. For
them. at least It IS TO be feared that these "war-
ship; In their hravcst trim" would stimulate other
than Wholesome fra"rnal feelings.
II must not b. forgotten that these thirty-fvc
ships OF representing perhaps. forty millions OF
money were not built 10 inculcate brothcrly anec-
lions nor are they anOat I'm the interests OF peace.
when the potential power for evil confined within
the steel hulls bclchcs forth devastation will follow.
Men will De- sain cities laid waste and after has been
heard the shout of victory and the wall OF defeat Will
come the years OF bitter TO homes and families
that ever Holm the wake OF the wreck and ruin OF war
Is II not sad contemplate that these gayy deco
rated ships are housed 10000 souls In the strength Of
Youthful manhood. who. Withdrawn from the occupa-
lions Of peace set apart expressly for the pur
pose Of harmng their fellows, for killing and manning
tho very with whom they have just beer fra
ternizingi All this among Christian people in the
nineteenth Christian century! What hollow mock
cry! Fancy the loss to their several countries OF
loss too sustained in the product Of other mems
Industries that must go 10 support these inactive
warriors.
America IS the only great Power In the world
which does not consume the substance OF her people
by nphodIng huge military establishments. Is 1t
at the close OF this nineteenth century that our Ma
tion which has stood for 100 years object
lesson to the European world In emphasizing the
victories OF peace, should turn over II new leaf'
We are already engaged In building Navy; perhaps
II Will De- great standing army that VIII next pe
called for. Are We. In short To abandon policy mat
has heretofore made distinctive among the gov
crnmcnts OF the world. to repeat and emulate the
follcs OF the Christian Il nations Of Europcl
Men whose opinions this subject are OF value
consider that the solution OF international differences
by the brntaics OF war would end could the per
sonal ambitions OF sovereigns be eliminated from
European politics. There no sovcrcgns with us.
and surely We have reason to fear the ambitions
of EurOpcan rulers. We have right To hope That
the coming century IS to be less bloody than the
preceding one Rather than building fleets Is II not
for us 10 still an object lesson In the advance OF
new era when not only will the nccdlesSness OF war
become patent to all, but well the folly OF wasting
the countrys substance In the continual preparations
for wars that may not comet II history Is record
OF human progress, nothing IS more certain than that
the discontinlancc OF this amcntablc waste OF life Is
a thing Of the comparatively future. Are We
frther,;lg rcardng this much tObc desired reform
by equippng "White Fleets and standing armies.
and combining who might b. producers to the en-
forced demorazlng dlencss OF shipboard and the
barrnck-men whose lives might Otherwise De valuable
factors In the improvement and development 0f our
set country
The resources of the United States are immense,
and quite equal to preparing for war when war Is
threatened Past experience teaches US that nations
ought 10. and can. exist without ih'lhS ahclpaory
nayes afoat armies afcld with guns loaded ana
swords whrted. Sir Robert Peel urged that nations
should willingly some RISK OF being imperiecuy
prepared when war came rather than weaken them
selves by idle armamenis: MI GLADSTONE mas ire
quently vanly endcavored to awaken n like sentiment
I'm the present generation Of Englishmen. We OF
America know full well that at the outbreak OF the
late War Of the Rebellion the North was but poorly
was fired Mr. Lincoln declared all southern ports to
te Sockoded War vessels were so quickly produced
by the Government that the blockade was rapidly |
made effective, and mp to the cessation OF hostites
wns vigorously maintained II Is true that the |
day OF wooden ships. but II may DE remembered that
the Introduction Of armored vessels due to |
ibe summer Of 1862 in Hampton Roads, rcvolutIonked
uaya, ar"hi,ectnre and introduced a era In mari
time warfare To-day the United states can com.
pete with nearly. II not all the nations OF the worid
In tho amid production OF steel ships.
OF course The press Of the country Is In measure
right in saving that sala week has been In every