The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26

which rulers sacrificed in war now have
aims and aspirations Of their own. Con-
sequently, the spirit OF the age is for
peace.
The costliness of modern war is great
deterrent. The cost of the equipment
OF an army and navy is not only i'm
mense, but time is required. A modern
large calibre gun costs more than
whole park Of the old artillery. Not only
does a modern ironclad or cruiser cost
as much as fleet of wooden ships, such
as those with which the worlds naval
battles have been fought, but two or
three years are needed for the construc-
ton of one of the former. The vessels
with which Hull and Perry won decisive
battles on the lakes were built in a few
months. and some of them were standing
trees a few weeks before battle. Defeat
In modern war is well-nigh bankruptcy
for the unfortunate. The Franco-Prus-
sian war lasted but a few months, yet
no nation except France could have
taken UP the burden of such losses and
the Indemnity demanded by Germany.
Even now that frugal nation is ham,
pered in its development by the mill
stone of debt incident to that war which
is abou. its neck.
Most of the contentious In which Eu
ropean nations have been engaged in re-
cent years have been inspired by an
eagerness for wider commercial advan-
tages. All the troubles which European
nations have had in the Orient, in Africa,
India and Egypt result from purpose
to extend their markets. Their jealous
les grow out of trade rivalries. England
is more incensed by the successful COM
mercial rivalry of Germany than by the
acts and words of it's war lord" Not
the least loss of two first-class nations
which should enter upon a protracted
war would be that of their trade with
other nations. If, for instance, Great
Britain and Russia should go to war,
what a godsend it would be for Ger
many France and even the United
States to get the markets now possessed
by the former in every part of the globe.
Even if victorious, a two years war be-
tween the nations named would so far
lose to Great Britain its markets of the
/ 4 4
ever wrest them from such competitors
as Germany and France.
One has read the history of nations
to little purpose If he has not been i'm
pressed with the growing sanctity which
is attached to human life. That sacred
ness which has come to be q part of hui
man life is SO general that even a rash
and ambitious ruler. with autocratic
power, would hesitate a long time before
he would make himself responsible for
a war in which many thousands of lives
would be sacrificed. He will make sure
that his cause is defensible before the
silent but potential tribunal Of the judg-
ment of the civilized world before he
will venture to provoke a war with
weapons many times more death dealing
than those which have heretofore been
used in war. A collision Of armies of
infantry with the terrible weapons which
leading governments have adopted would
mean practical humiliation for the one
which failed to get the immediate adj
vantage. Even divine-right ruler
would not lightly be responsible for such
slaughter.
Not the least Of the influences which,
as the years pass, have silently tended
to make war repulsive is the gradual
change in religious teaching. The Old
Testament, with it's cruel wars and its
humanity of the Sermon on the Mount.