People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-11-15
BRUTE FORCE GAINS.
HIGH CIVILIZATION NO LONGER
OUR GLORY.
Brutal Capital Even Enters the Cradles
OF the Innocents-Great Capitalists
All Deplore the Work Our Public
Schools Have Been Doing.

nOSO duNdHCSu anu humane minus OF
the world have looked to the United
States to set an example of true civil
cation, by insisting on the settlement
Oh all international disputes in which
the republic was concerned by arbitra-
ton, thus emphasizing the supremacy
OF something higher than the reign of
brute force, which diSregards the sane
tity of human life and fires the most
savage instincts in man.
There were many reasons why it was
fitting that the great republic should
enjoy the proud distinction
of taking the initiative in the inaugu-
ration of an era of universal peace.
We had nothing to fear from Europe, as
the great powers are, tiger-like, watch
ing one another. England knows full
well that if she should de-
clare war against America, she
might expect Russia to execute
her generation long dream of Indian
conquest. If Germany felt able to en-
gage us France would be quick to re-
cover Alsace and Lorraine, and, indeed,
no nation which could cope with us
would be insane enough to think of
engaging in war with republic I'M
less our nation occupied such mani
testify unjust or indefensible attitude
as to bar us from the moral support of
civilization.
In such cases as the Alabama claims
and the Behring sea question, our gov
eminent showed the more excellent
way, and demonstrated that war is not
only unnecessary, but that at this stage
OF civilization it is indefensible. And
these great peace victories which
pointed to realization of new civil
cation, were in perfect alignment with
the ideals held by the founders of our
government.
After our late war, however, our
country passed into a stage of exist
ance as dazzling to the superficial OBJ
server as it was ominous to the serious
mind-a period characterized by the
carrying out of vast enterprises, in
which, too frequently, the government
furnished large part of the wealth
required, while she permitted monop-
olies to reap the benefits. An era of
class legislation was succeeded by an
era OF speculation or gambling. Spe-
cial privileges, class laws and specula-
ton gave to few cunning, and often
totally unScrupuous, men millions of
unearned wealth, and the government
entered on a moral decline as humiliat-
ing to the patriot as it is melancholy
to those who desire to see manhood
dignifed and emancipated and justice
enthroned in the affections of the peo-
pie.
= The student of history will note with
sadness that, as venality began to
creep into the halls of state, and as
seats which had been honored by un-
corrupted patriotism and far seeing
craftsmanship were purchased by gold
or won by intriguing tricksters, and
especially as Wall street and the mo.
nopolistic power came to sway more
and more influence in shaping legisla.
ton and debating nominations, we be.
gan to initiate the despotisms of Eu
rope, not only in building arsenals and
armories, but by assiduously fostering
the war spirit in our young people.
In order to impress this phase of the
question on the minds of our readers.
shall notice one of many similar de
scriptions of military organizations
under the auspices of the church, which
have recently been given in fulsom,
terms by leading daily papers. TIL,
one | am about to notice contains sucl
headlines as the following: Properly
Uniformed and Armed; Both Infantr,
and Artillery Maneuvers; Drills ant
Exhibitions Given" Then follows al
article which bestows unstinted prais
on rich New York church for foster
ing the war spirit in the minds of
number of working boys and seem,
that they were supplied with deadl,
muskets-muskets which had alread
been used for slaughtering human be
ings.
Comparatively few people are awar
of the military activity within the cit,
churches of America to-day. 1t is tru
that the daily papers of our grea
cities have published of late so man
elaborate and Mandatory accounts @
church fostered military companies
that those who read more than tn
news items must be more or les
familiar with what is going on in thi
direction; but the millions in tn
country and towns are ignorant of tn
magnitude of this movement, and tn
weary workers who, in the nature of tn
case can not take time to reason fro,
cause to effect, are content to accept a
gospel whatever the capitalistic an
conventional press applauds, withor
appreciatinp the real significance ,