The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-16

er away and become but an aggrega-
ton OF weakness. Holland once OVID
ed half of the world, but peaceful ways
and sentiments have left her nil. The
belligerent Johnny Bull started with
nothing but an Island and that domi-
nted by Rome. yet by his fighting comes
out at the head of the heap. There
is India with her millions upon mill
ions Of inhabitants, that rolled and
degenerated in peace till she lost her
autonomy and became subject.
War is dreadful in some of its as
poets, no doubt; but there are worse
things than war. We talk of peace
and learning" says John Ruskin. land
of peace and plenty. and of peace and
civilization; but / find that these are
not the words which the Muse of His
tory couples together: that on her lips
the words are: Peace and sensuality,
peace and selfishneSs. peace and cor
ruptiOn, peace and DEATH" And the
same great writer insists that ''war
is the foundation of all the high virtues
and faculties of men," and that it is
better to slay ones neighbOr than TO
cheat him.
Among the possessions which Eng
land has won through her disposition
to fight is Burmah, lovely beautiful
Burmah. holding to the peacefulreligiOn
of Buddha. Burmah was happy in her
peaceful Incidence, but she came in
contact with British rule in India and
absorbing Africa, was lovely Burmah
with her marvellous beauty of light
and landscape, disintegrated and alb
sorbed. At last, and less than ten
years ago, her king, Thebaw was car
ried away an English captive to In
dia. They wouldn't fight and they
must wear the British yoke.
As we said their religion was at the
bottom of the troubles. 1t counseled
peace, only sweet peace. In their re-
ligiOn there is no God, no priesthood.
They have no use for the influences
or spirit which would acquire houses,
lands, stocks, and bonds. no patience
with the clatter and hustle of trade
Their religion teaches the doctrine of
the transmigratiOn of souls THAT is,
4 series of eXistences through which
the soul must pass until, purged of all
impurity, it at last passes into the con-
ditiOn Of Nirvana, where it loses itself
in the ocean of everlasting rest. This
condition may be attained without the
round of repeated existences II in any
one Of them the Buddhist believes he
can so live as to purify his soul by ac-
merits, and thus fl it for the
don and end of all
Hence the Burmahn seeks to follow
the teachings of the great Buddha;
and thousands in their youth retire to
to live the life Of celibacy
poverty and charity. And every Bur
man boy for certain period of his life
he is taught, among other things, the
precepts Of morality. No one, how
ever, is admitted as a professed monk
until the age of 81; and then so long
as he shall remain monk he spends !
his days in contemplation, devotion |
and teaching. But "a monk is free |
to leave the monastery when he feels |
no longer a call for religious life, or if |
he wish to return to the world or TO |
marry. He is in no sense priest; he |
pursues the religious life not TO aid and |
save others, but to save himself. AS
an example he indirectly aids others"
This is peace, and Gene Ware was
right in declaring for war. Had Chi
IA been for war 1t would have been |
and great Had Japan
held TO her traditional peace that king
1Om Of flowers would sooner or later
nave fallen into the hands of some
western monarchy, probably that of
Great Britain. And so the Burmans
ire pleasure loving people, and en-
Oyment is more to them than treas
Tres of silver or of gold. They do not
the Goddess of Getting On.
They seek to enjoy this world while In
T, and yet look forward to the rest
# Nirvana as, after all, the highest
rood. But such a people, and with
uch characteristics. are not likely to
or to regain when lost the
Of their country. "Whol-
Y tranquil nations wither entirely
LWay"