The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-03-30

he no occasion for international con-
crosses or courts to consider the Ques-
ton of standing armies, II would set
tie itself. The pecuniary burden of
maintaining millions Of men who could
neither he used for ACKNOWLEDGMENT
nor needed for defense would be suf-
fcient inducement TO dishand them.
Europe would still require several
hundred thousand soldiers rs national
snd International poliee. and the re-
maining millions could be dishanded
SO gradually as 10 make increase in
the supply OF labor less than the in
creased demand incident 10 rapidly in
creasing prosperity. II military and
naval expenditures were reduced 10
$3.50 Goa. coo wear the crushing bur
den Of taxation would be materially
lightened. and II 1000. 600 men were
ultimately returned 10 the productive
industries Of peace Il would be light
eDed stin more \ hitherto unknown
feeling Of security and confidence
would enable the nations 70 fund their
debts nj lower rates of interest. and 10
gradually pay them of and would
also lead 10 larger investments of cap
it2l and 10 more universal and more
.remunerative employment of labor.
Trial by wager of battle was intro
ducei into England by the Norman
conquest. and was maintained for
centuries with great pomp sind cere
mouy. Ii was in the nature of an ar-
peal in civil criminal and military
causes, and in civil causes was the
lost OVID ,,o-F ..,Ta-,,- ,ezo-. 90 ,-~
title TO real estate. Before the judges.
clothed in their scarlet robes, each
comhatant swore that his cause WAS
Just and that he used no sorcery or en-
chantment. The battle lasted until the
stars appeared in the evening or until
one Of the parties was killed or pro
nounced the horrible word craven by
which he became infamous" As late
aS 1878, in the caSe of Ashford vs..
Thornton (BarneweIl & Alderson's Re
uorts. vol l., .. 400, the English Court
AZ Kings Bench solmenly held that
the defendant was entitled "to this his
lawful mode Of trial" the chief Justice.
Lord Enenborough. sayi( :: The gem
eral law Of the land is in favor of the
wager Of battle. and il is our duty 10
pronounce the law as il is and not as
we mSy wish il 70 be. Whatever preju-
dice. therefore, may exist against this
mode Of trial, as il is the law Of the
land. the court must pronounce judg-
ment for it"
We can hardly realize that this alb
surd method Of trying title to a farm
was recognized by English law from
the Norman conquest 10 the birth of
Queen Victoria: yet IL France and Ger
many were 10 try title TO Alsaee and
Lorraine tomorrow they would repeat
il at the cost of hundreds of thousands
| OF lives and thousands of millions OF
dollars. Each nation would solemnly
appeal 10 God and put its trust in
smokeless powder.
I am no Quaker. There have been
and again may be times when the only
road 10 peace viii be through the he'll
Of war. when the shedding OF mans
blood viii be the first duty Of man. but
| Il does seem TO me that the irrepres-
sihle conflicts OF the future are likely
70 be social rather than international
and that the world is becoming TOE
cosmopolitan. and its selfshness toC
enlightened. for civilized nations L
much longer continue 10 dwarf them
selves and sQuander their resources q:
they are now doing.
In the past the great prizes Of lif'
have come from the bloody yictories
q man over man; in the future the,
viii come from the bloodless yictorie
q man over nature Ages Of rilitar,
glory must give place 70 ages Of dis
coYery and invention. We call Edison
Z prodigy; he is merely q pioneer.
E. P. DOLE.