The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-30
THE CZAR's PEACE PROPOSITION.

THE CARS PEACE PROPOSITION.
The closing years of the nineteenth CEN
fury, prolific in important events, have
scarcely produced any more interesting than
the proposition of the Car for a European
conference of the powers to provide for a
general reduction of ornaments and guar
anty Of universal peace. Whatever may be
the outcome, the proposition itself is an in
teresting event and may prove an impor-
tant one. Substantially the same PROPOSE
ton has been made by peace societies and
philanthropists many times. The general
disarmament of Europe as means of re-
lieving the people of the burdens of taxa
ton and military service and paving the
way for peace among the nations has been
a favorite theme among the advocates of
peace, but it has never before had the in
dorsement, if, indeed, it has received seri-
Gus attention, from the head of any Euro
pean government much less from the most
absolute sovereign of them all. The Gar
is the last ruler in Europe from whom such
proposition would have been expected,
yet the unexpected has happened.
The proposition is so evidently sincere and
is so earnestly put that one cannot doubt
that it means just what it says. The rea-
sons against continual increase of stand
ing armies and navies have never been
more strongly stated. Take this for ex
ample:
The financial changes following the up
ward march strike at the very root of pub
lie prosperity. The intellectual and physical
strength of the nations labor and capital
are mostly diverted from their natural APP
Hundreds of millions are devoted to acqulr-
ing the terrible engines of destruction,
which, though to-day regarded as the last
work of science, are destined tomorrow to
lose all their value in consequence of some
fresh discovery in the same field. National
culture, economic progress and the produc-
ton of wealth are either paralyZed or
checked in development Moreover, in pro-
portion as the ornaments of each power
Increase. they less and less fulfill the object
the governments have set before them
selves. The economic crisis, due in great
part to the system of ornaments Poutrance
massing of war material. are transforming
the armed peace of our days into a crushing
burden which the peoples have more and
more difficulty in bearing.
One cannot doubt the sincerity of this
statement, but one may speculate to its
motive. Perhaps it has at last dawned upon
the minds of Russian statesmen that what
Russia needs is repose and internal develop
ment, instead of territorial extension or
military prestige. In everything that goes
to make modern civilization she is hum
dred years behind western Europe. In
spcct of commerce and manufactures she
is an infant beside Great Britain, and she
would not be whit better off in this
spect if she controlled the whole of China
and had dozen outlets to the sea and ports
open the year round. She does not need
more territory or more people, but to utilize
the territory and civilize the people she al
ready has. She needs peace, not war. This
may be the motive of the Cars PROPOSE
ton for a general reduction of ornaments.
1.-THE humanitarian and magnanimous
ideas of his Majesty the Emperor says
the Russian prime minister, "have been
won over to this view in the conviction that
this lofty aim is in conformity with the
most essential interests and legitimate
views of all the powers, and the imperial
government thinks the present moment
would be very favorable to seeking the
MEANS" 1t is not likely the Car is trou-
bling himself much about the interests OF
other nations. 1t is enough that he has
come to take a sensible view of Russian
interests and decided that she needs peace
and relief from excessive and ever-increas-
ing ornaments.
1t would be a great thing for Europe and
the world if the proposition of the Car
could be carried into effect but it is scarce
ly within the bounds of possibility that it
should be. The interests involved are too
great and too conflicting, and the practical
difficulties, as they appear to the various
powers, are too numerous. If Russia her.
self would set the example by reducing her
standing army of 100000 men to, say, one
fourth of that number, and her navy in the
same proportion, and challenge theSSerier
powers to do likewise, that would~be a be-
ginning. But nothing of the kind will be
done. The Cars proposition will be, to all
appearances, respectfully received and con-
sidered by the other powers, and possibly
some sort of a conference will be held but
nothing will come Of it. 1t is even doubtful
If the matter will get so far along as the
holding of a conference. The European
press may puncture the life out of the prop
osition and skilled diplomatists give 1t a SOL
emn burial while laughing in their sleeves
at the Car for making it. Nevertheless
it is an interesting event.