Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-29

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NOSE rapid methods Of execution. n can.
not be denitd that the word 10 iosinx "a
relish for war.
But there remains n spirit which 10
clothed with wisdom. Is one Of the n1bless
In human nature, but without ,l,is a.r
ment IL al the best a noble folly. refer
10 that spirit. nowhere better deyeIoped
than in our own country. which cries al,
at every little infringement Of what ~
call our rights, protect the honor OF our
State" Clothed with wisdom 1 say ~
cannot condemn IT. Il has done much ~
make US what we are as a nation Yn,
there Is a better cry than this. We look
back at the days Of dweliing-we think
OF our statesman Hsmihon.-with shut
der tt that code Of morals which de-
mandtI blood for every infringement M
private honor: and we say 1t Is much
better. much more civilized. to submit al
private differences to courts Of Justice for
peaceful settlement. II right and ius.
tice" Is better cry than honor" for The
individual. Why Is ii not for the Slater
War IL not court OF justice We nev-
CT say question was submitted to The
just decision OF war: but whenever We
speak we condemn IT with the phrase
"chances OF war" Better 10 decide 10
drawing lots than that the declsIon
should be given into the hands OF force
Force ard right rule the worid'' Mat
thew Arnold aptiy SAID. but force until
right is ready" / submit Ii 10 YOU ina,
The success Of our courts Of justice
should have taught US the value OF q pre-
viously appointed means for settling all
disputes.
Previously appointed ard permanen,
the international tribunal should be- for
reasons which here can be mentioned bu.
briefly. In the first place. the difficulty
Of deciding on court after trouble has
actually arisen. must be evident TO all:
Jealousy may enter ia and make d peace
ful settlement impossible, when The ease
woEld readily have been Submitted 10 4
court previously agreed on. Then. 90
as things are now. every slightest wills
per % trouble becomes I'm the mouths of
the newspapers war cry that arouses
at once. "A public spirit OF defiance and
has a tendency 10 p-ecipifate war: this
could not be. II the meana If > lust nent
first In our minds we're arbitration. Dis-
putes about matters too small to affect
deeply q nations honor have often caused
incre aslng hostility. nave famed IN.
siumberiug cmbers into the glowing
flames Of war. permanent board of ar
b.fra.ion would dispose ~ the most Of
these at once. Il Is evident too, that ma
tons would DC restrained from petty
wrongs by IN. knowledge that they could
not be perpctrated With imprnity.
our Senate is TO be condemned becauzA
II ia not raiify the treaty in which ary
hopes were centered. II has been untrue
10 tbs sentiment Of the people. ! do not
condemn those conservative senators for
adding an amendment for the protection
al our national policy. But they added
many amendments. till the original
strength Of the great treaty was gone
till Il would seem lis worst enemies
could no longer oppose II: and then.
weak. sickiy thing that Il was they
killed II. Brave senators. that depend
for their support on a morbid war spirit.
and care not that the deepest trues,
thoughts OF the people ask for oelee
whose permanence is secured
49, 30 t..Q- r.
peacc7 The great sun in It's course finds
no better country than ours to shine
upon. and the greatest reason is peace
For over thirty years we have enjoyei
those blessings which to many nations
are but the promise of an era yet in the
future. whose slow dawnlng tells that
day Is coming. but tells not when In
peace the farmer cultiyates our fertile
plains and reaps abundant harvest. In
peace the mechanic tolls and surrounds
himself with the comforts of life. Our
merchant sends his vessels where ne will
to bring him wealth. and for them there
IS peace on every ocean. Railroads and
vansss cover our great country with a
there flow TO every part supplies OF life
and comfort. Our government builds
stately postoffices Of marble and employs
an army of peace TO carry 10 our doors
with the lives of our most distant
friends. Scientists are sent to search in
the hidden corners of our domains for
those things which shall contribute TO
our comfort and happiness. Our Land
grows rich in discoveries. and inventions.
in education, and In all progress
Best of all our homes are unbroken
Those sacred places where the child
becomes an American no longer send him
forth as a soldier to danger and death.
but shelter him as the happy producer OF
private and national prosperity. The fire.
side and the home circle are not sweet
dreams which visit him In a cheerless
camp, but dear realities which crown his
daily life. No wonder that we love peaes.
for to us life is worth living No wonssr
that we shutider al war and all Il means:
curses for blessings: the checking of ali
industry and progress: the loss of wealth
OF relatives and friends. OF happiness.
and souls of men.
And Yet We do not treat war like the
dreadful thing 1t is. We allow ourselves
10 be stirred by those who are falsely
brave. and threaten war for every petty
wrong. as If there were no other way TO
right II. May the time soon come when
there shall be something stronger thsn
an unwritten code OF International law to
restrain nations from violence, something
better and more reliable than hastily
appointed tribunals to Danish the war
clouds that may still arise.