The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-23
Religious Papers and the Treaty.


1t is reported that religious papers which
In the past were notable for the magnitude
Of their circulation are now declining in
interest for the people to whom they make
their appeal.
An examination Of the Outlook, the paper
Of DR.. LYMAN ABBOTT, suggests to us one
cause, at least, for the failure of one Of them
to secure the respect of the American peo.
pie. 1t is Mugwumpery Of the feeblest and
most diluted sort. Naturally, men of strong
convictions in religion are not weak neu.
trails and whining doubters in politics. In
other words, the men who have genuins 10.
ligious belief are not Of the kind that Mug,
wumpery appeals to, with It's hypocritical
pretence Of non.partisanship. They are
partisans by nature.
As an example Of the emasculated Ameri.
canism Of the Outlook, we quote this from
u leading article in its last number on the
proposed arbitration treaty:
"The real obstacle to the treaty Is either a provin.
cial nationalism, that Ia, sclf.conceit. or hostility Ia
Great Britain. such as Is involved In the ancient say
ing. Thou shalt love thy neighbor hut hate thine
enemy, n commercial rival being In this case regarded
"a IN enemy. or n nero unintclligent brutalism and
inherent owe q war. Against these no voice can ha
30 potent As that OF the pulpit. and no duty can be
clearer than 10 use that power on behalf OF internA-
tional brotherhood, q generous, not mean or petty,
emulation. the spirit OF peace, and the substitution OF
reason for war and brute force"
provincial n~ationalism" Is pure Mug.
wunp. The national spirit which Is Jealous
Of the honor Of the country and earnest for
the maintenance OF it's rights Is "provin.
,;al ~ 10 it3 An ,.tto..I .t.tIt.- - ---
Is offensive to epicene Mugwumpery, as
"mere unintelligent b~rutalism and inherent
love Of war :" but without it there can be nc
national endurance.
How can the proposed treaty be a "power
on behalf Of international brotherhood "
when simultaneously Great Britain Is en-.
gagged in strengthening It's military prepa.
rations along our northern border and In
the West India Islands1 Does that look
like 1.-THE substitution of reason for wal
and brute ~force"l
international brotherhood" II war Is To
be no more, should extend through the
world. AS between England and ourselves
only, and as provided for in the Olney.
Pauncefote treaty, 1t is only partial and
actually, instead OF preventing war, II
nllRnt rather teHu 10 IOfnent ana encourage
war. II England could eliminate by a
treaty all possibility Of war with America
she would be relieved of an obstacle and a
danger by which she is now restrained from
war elsewhere. Hence, with the situation
as it is, we are helping the cause of the
worlds peace. We have England under
bonds to keep the peace. She cannot go to
war with us without ~endangering her whole
empire, for such n war would absorb her
whole strength, and she would become the
prey of her European rivals while her force
was necessarily expended on this side of the
water.
As a measure Of international brother,
hood" the treaty which the Senate so prop.
erly hesitates to ratify is, therefore, mere
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
II you want to promote Christian brother.
hood, why don't you bring the z of
your arguments to bear on the Christian
powers OF Europe, England among them,
which are now engaged in bolstering up the
u~nspeakable Turk, red handed with the
blood of massacred Armenian Christians I