The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
TO ENCOURAGE PEACE
ANTI-wAR MOVEMENT IN WHICH
HERBERT SPENCER ENGAGED.
correspondence Between Two scient-
ists Showing the Inception OF the
scheme-Hnd III Success.



correspondence viii be new to most read
ers. They are only known TO those who
were In some way connected with the
movement IN question. and they furnish
hopeful indication OF what we may ex-
pect from the careful study Of society
by competent men. These letters are
taken from the correspondence carried
on for many years between Mr.. Herbert
Spencer and the late T. L. Youmans. A
letter from Mr.. Spencer OF Oct. 10, 1879.
has long postscript as follows:
"P. S.-while away in the country this
time 1 have been so frequently thinking
OF the question OF militancy VS.. indus
trialism and the profound antagonism
between the two which comes out more
and more at every step in my sociological
inquiries, and 1 have been so strongly
impressed with the decentralization that
is going on in consequence OF the re-
turn to militant activities that have
come TO the conclusion that it is worth
while TO try and do something towards
organizing an antagonist agitation We
have lying diffused throughout English
society various bodies and classes very
decidedly opposed TO IL. which think
merely want bringing together to pro-
duce a powerful agency. which may do
eventually good deal in civilizing di-
rection- The nonconfornist body as a
whole. through it's ministers. has been
manifesting anti-war feelings very
strongly; the leading workingmen, as
was shown at the late Sheffield congress,
are quite alive to the mischief; the Sec
ularists as body will go in the same
direction; so will the Comtists; so will
considerable number of rationalists; so
will a considerable sprinkling Of Liberal
politicians. and SO will even certain
proportion Of the advanced churchmen,
such as Hughes, and of the clerical body.
/ have talked TO several about the mat
ter-Rathbone, member for Liverpool,
Harrison, Morley and others-and / am
about to take further steps. There is a
decided sympathy felt by all have
named, and think it is important to
move. I propose as a name The Non
aggression League which is a name
that will sufficiently Indicate the legiti-
mate attitude to be taken, and is one to
which there can be no rational antag-
onism. I will write you further about
the matter IL anything comes of it. Ever
yours, H. S."
In his reply Mr.. Youmans says:
What you said about the anti-military
movement interested me much. | have
thought a good deal about it, But will
II really be worth while for you TO move
IN the matter? Will not the burden of
such thing fall very much on yourself
and have you an ounce to spare from
your legitimate work, which in the long
run must tell more widely and power
fully upon public sentiment than any or
ganized agitation could do? As for us.
We are worse off than you are. There is
a furore all over the country demanding
Grant for a third term as President and
q vigorous movement for introducing
military studies into all our schools. Our
million soldiers are all voters, and our
tens OF thousands of military officers are
all candidates for political positions
Your title, The Mona ggression League
would not be so suitable for us as for
you. Your national policy is aggressive
towards distant races, but our civil war
mas given the subject home aspect
and the military spirit goes for strong
government. However. if you act in tho
matter it will react favorably upon u.s.
GETTING TOGETHER.
But Mr.. Spencer was not deferred from
the undertaking by his friends objec-
tons In subsequent letters there are in
timations OF what he is doing to bring
together these scattered groups of anti
war people, but it was not until July 20.
1881, that matters had progressed suffi-
GENTLY to produce any definite result.
At that date Mr.. Spencer says: al in
close you copy of the circular as finally
decided upon. l have good hope that we
shall do some service This circular.
written by Mr.. Spencer. explains itself.
and is as follows
private and confidential)
Sir-Remembering the aggressive pol
Icy pursued by the late government in
various parts of the world, and seeing
that the spirit displayed by the military
naval and Official classes is one tending
ever TO prompt such a policy. il is in
terrible that should any crisis bring a
Change OF government there will prob
ably be resumption of courses which
entangle us in hostiHties with uncivilized
nations. Under these circumstances il
Is felt by many who have at heart the
continuance Of peaceful progress that
steps should be takeni TO palt a perma-
nent check on these tendencies adverse
10 IL, and that to this end Some organ
lied agency should be established Such
an agency would have aSitS objects:
Constantly TO keep aneye9 upon the
foreign policy Of the home government
and on the doings OF our officials in the
colonies. 80
: To urge that the power theoretical
~ possessed by Parliament TO accept or
reject the international engagements
made on our behalf by the executive
shall be a real and not a nominal power
J. To insist that our representatives
abroad who commit aggressions on other
peoples. savage or civilized, either in dis
obedience TO or in excess OF orders.
shall at once be dismissed from public
service.
4. To combat the doctrine now tacitly
accepted that the British government is
bound 10 carry protection TO every
British subject wherever he may choose
TO wander.
s. To show the public at large, and
especially the workingmen, that their
prosperity is more intimately bound up
with maintenance of European peace
and arrest Of filibustering expeditions in
the colonies than il is with the pushing
OF those class interests which now alb
eorb 50 much OF their attention
g. To prove TO them further that the
possibility OF progress to higher social
state, not material only. but moral and