The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-08


WAR 30 MORE.
II is scarcely possible TO deny that
Mars. as a thunderer. has lost much Of
his prestige. lie busters still and
struts about in fine clothes, as II he en-
tertained no doubts as 10 his own im-
portance; but the fact is that the world
has outgrown the supercilious venerA-
ton that once made him great for mis-
chief. Ilo may swagger and bully az OK
old. but his voice has lost it's potency.
His attempted thunder has a stage
effects and savors OF opera bouife.
When he tries the shrill cry that once
startled the world, he is apt 10 break
down like superaunuated tenor whose
throat has lost it's one-time witchery
Witness az o late instance the old war
rior's attempt TO drive 60O0OO00 people
into a rush at poor little Chill. Tho lions
roar did not much more than emulate
the accents OF the sucking dove; the
clarion voice ended in a ridiculous
squeak. and the senile disturber Of the
world's peace retired discounted. Even
Mrs. Vulcan, frivolous as she has always
been, would probably wonder at the de-
fusion which once overcame her sense
Of the domestic proprieties. II Peace
must give way 10 the storms and agita-
tions Of war, the divine Psllss Athene
shall be the promoter Of conflicts. She,
at least, is Wisdom itself. Her pro
pensity to use the weapons with which,
after ACQUIRED, she leaped into being is
restrained by reflection, when
Psuas prepares the bounding car.
The shield and helm and spear Of war,
she has some reason, plausible, II not
sound, to allege. Carnage Of itself does
not attract her nor the blind tendency
to destroy lead her TO lay aside her
divine attributes.
Which is equivalent TO saying myth
illogical analogies being exhausted
that the good sense Of the world no
longer accepts trumpet blast as a
challenge to battle,-without reflection.
The empty clamor Of a war cry has lost
It's virtue. Thanks 10 the commercial
spirit which has grown into q beneiicent
and general factor in the worlds prog
gress, the cost Of the operation is
counted before tne die is cast. Men do
rot love war for glorys sake, nor incite
il as a means Of paying home expenses.
Napoleon himself did the last Of these
things, and met the expenses Of his adj
ministration by levying tribute on those
whom his arms had overcome-not to
speak Of the fine paintings and other
trihes which he carried 20 Paris ae
minor profits Of the business which be
understood 30 well. But in the end
this method Of administering the affairs
Of his empire was found Improbable.
- The day Of reckoning came and 10 was
ascertained on striking balance sheet
that the venture, promising as 10 had
been in its conception, had resulted IN
heavy loss. War FOR profit has seen It'd
lest days and may no longer be reck-
oned among tie dangers that threaten
Peace. except. OF course, the ire
presslble tendency of strong and civil
lied nations 60 coerce their weak and
barborous sisters to accept the benefits
OF Trade and Progress and % open thei
door 10 civilization. 10 Ch.uu, Tor iu-
stance, does not realize the benefits Of
free trade iu opium, il Egypt fails 20 sec
who is her best friend then sufficient
force must OF course bc applied % the
recalcitrant barbarian 90 remove pre-
judicos that spring from ignorance Of
what Is best for himself DO may b,
said that optimistic views OF Peace have
little to support them when we sec all
Europe in arms ready ilr conflict to
be fought ou scale unknown Dog tho
history Of mankind bur n1 Left.r evi
dence Of the growing Inclination 9,
peaceful methods eau Dee adlueet than
this very fact France, Germ .ly Itue
sia, Italy. Auatria, are al armed to the
teoth. and most o. them are r.d. ny witt
furious speed into bankruptcy. Ter
they have been doing ths nearly
quarter OF century. Meu have grown
gray in tie service OBJ their couutrIe.
who have never fired slot or hear,
tie sound o. az eHemy's geu. Th,
military element is anxious and reatles.
at enforced iunotiln pTotrac.ed beyoul
all precedent. and yet cash ali all o
those nations. with their hauas GA theu
swords, proclaim tleir auNety 20
peace, s1lemuly asserting tlGt thei
grim and threatening PERI arat.ous ar.
only intended, as they a-o calculated, q
secure as blosslc8. Aud 10 each ro
fuses 90 disarm, % Do because the on,
thul Giaaru.le would merely bare hi
unprotected boron o. ITO blows ~ a.
eager Zoe. These muloua upon mill
ions spent upon improved ornaments
moro doails bullets aud esqu.-itely De
6tructiro rifles, aro simply par, Of th
tribute which Prudence 81 called upol
70 pay. and sound Eeasol inexorabl
eKac'a. This, at least, Is what they sal
and perhaps believe.
Why does not aona one ars the firs