St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-19
"NHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS
BE:,

NV nen, Jnfee years ago, the great
worlds fair was in progress at Chi
cago, it was anticipated confidently
that the nations of the earth had en-
tered upon a reasonably permanent era
of peace and progress There were
gathered there all the implements and
fruits of human industry from the
four corners Of the earth. There were
assembled there the representatives of
science and art and religion in a series
of great congresses that considered the
methods of advancement for humanity.
1t was believed that this association
of nations in SO great an enterprise had
done more to bring them closer to-
gether, and to bound their future am
bitions by the highest welfare of the
individual in the state. than any event
within the past quarter or a century.
The marts of business and the halls
of legislatures seemed ready to echo
the ancient message of the church, of
peace on earth and good will toward
men.
Today, when so little time has past
since that epoch of good feeling, we
see a world in which the martial FRENZY
seems to have taken undisputed pos
session of people everywhere, and where
reason has yielded its throne to pas
sion. There never was a time in re-
cent years when there was less call
for clashing between the nations. or
for an increase in the burdens and
horrors or real or anticipated war than
the present There has seldom been
time when so many nations were
squandering huge sums upon the in
crease of their armies and navies. Nor
can it be cOntended that this is a repe-
tition of the old device by which states
men have been in the hapit of divert
ing attention from their own affairs
at home by stirring up the people to
dreams of glory abroad 1t is the
people themselves who are goading
their leaders into this unexampled folly.
and demanding that the scourge be
laid upon their own backs as the price
OF their support.
Never since the day when France de-
manded declaration of war against
Germany has there been q movement
so enthusiastic as that of the italian
people toward another African cam
paign' They have just received blow
in Abyssinia which would cripple a
nation of ampler resources. The an
swer made to this by nation impov-
erished and taX-burdened almost he
yond endurance is the grant of a credit
of 40OO0,0 900 lire for war purposes.
That much more money is to be
taken from the people and
thrown away upon another Afri-
can campaign, and it is these Door
victims of their own madness who de-
mand it. The application for this great
appropriation was received with an
plause; it was accepted unanimously
and the news of it was greeted with
demonstrations of public approval ev-
erywhere that seemed like reioicings
over news Of some great victory.
At the same moment, England. re-
versing her policy in Egypt. has or
dered an advance upon DongoIa. which
the ministry confesses is not the oh
jective point, but merely a halting
place for an expedition to conquer the
Soudan. The euphonious cant in which
the Briton clothes his design is 'tc
bring the blessings of British rule' tc
the people OF Central Africa. What he
means is that France, Italy, Germany
and England are now converging thei,
forces upon the remaining unoccupied
territory in Central Africa, and tha,
Great Britain proposes to have he1
share at any cost. The fact is not con.
cealed that this may even lead to a con.
flict that will precipitate European
war. The great hazard which English
statesmen repudiated in scorn when II
was seen to be involved in the rescue
of the Armenians is accepted by them
with gladness, and is grasped at eager.
~ in order 20 secure a few thousand
square miles of territory and another
batch Of savage subjects in the dark
continent Iii connection with this it is
to be noted that the enormous grant OF