The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-17


must be able to find adequate solution for
these difficulties that 10 the superficial view
seem so forbidding and disheartening. Why,
for instance, may not the status quo be de-
termined beforehand by international agree
ment2 Why is it not possible, IL 1t be
fact, as il is, that the nations of the earth
are rot contented with the conditions as
they now exist, why is it not possible to
make by previous compact some readjust-
ment of the territorial conditions. and for
each nation to make some gracious conces-
sion to so great and desirable end? Why
should there not be determination CT the
various spheres of influence and of action
of the different nations by an International
council assembled especially and uniquely
for this purpose? This is already done on
a smaller scale. 1t is done by England and
America in regard to the claims growing
out of the Alabama episode; it is being
done by England and America to-day in re-
gard to the VENEZUELA difficulty.
And if these agreements and adjustments
through arbitration are possible on a small
scale between nation and nation by intel
ligent discussion and rational concession
why not on larger scale, on scale not
only between nation and nation. but be-
tween all the nations in their relations one
to another? And why. also, should not the
strife of civilizations be waged henceforth
along psychical rather than along physical
lines? Grant that the strife is real and
inevitable: grant that it j. not only real
until one civilization is altogether dcmi-
nant, that it can never malt or cease until
either Slav or Saxon rules. the master CT
the earth. Grant this. and vet why may
not this contest of opposing civilizations
be settled by means more modern by COM
and acumen. by the conquest OF ideas. rath-
er than by the ancient and barbarous in
strumentality of the clash of legions and
the supremacy of brute force?
VIRTUE OF NATIONAL HONOR.
"And so far as the objection of national
distrust is concerned, may it not be mere
than met and counteracted by virtue
hot &c flxxr 1i.lc "a
virtue of national honor? We hear much
of the honor of nations, we hear much Of
German honor of French honor OF Spanish
honor, of English and American honor. Is
this honor a myth Is it rooted in lie?
Is it founded in a deception? Is it merely
a diplomatic euphemism AID insirceTity,
this talk about national honor? If not, and
if it be a real thing, why should not honor
able nations trust one another as even now
honorable men trust one another? Surely
this is not Utopian. God forbid that in this
enlightened age anyone should entertain so
poor and low view of the integrity OF
the worlds great men and the honor OF
the nations over whose destiny these great
men preside!
And even if national honor be too frail
a reed on which 70 rely when such mighty
issues are at stake, there is, as last re-
sort the moral sentiment. the federated
strength of all the nations to enforce JUS
tice upon any nation that may prove re-
Calcitrant and rebellious; and against this
moral sentiment, this federated might and
would or could contend But now what
ever may be the obstacles in the way of the
diminution of the worlds destructive TEN,
per and martial energy, 1t must be admitted
am sure, that this idea of the Emperor
of all the Russias is a grand one, one Of
the grandest that ever emanated from the
mind of any ruler in any age. Caesar did
not give to the world thought of so large,
noble and benefcent potency, nor did Alex
ander nor did Charlemagne, nor did Fred
erick the Great nor did Cromwell nor did
Washington. 1t is a conception worthy of
an imperial mind. imperial in its magnanim-
ity. imperial in its sanity and imperial like
wise in its benignity. 1t is conception,
too. that should appeal with especial CO.
gency and appropriateness to our own ma
ton, and that We as a people should do all
that can to expedite. Our President in
public speech the other day said America
IS not military nation and God grant
ground for this Nation to stand upon. The
United States dare not be physically weak
while other nations are physically strong.
She, too. has her national integrity to main
tain, her international problems to consid-
er. her points of contact with the vaster
world, points that are fraught with serious
elements of menace. misunderstanding and
discord. Hence, if America-to say nothing
of her nobler obligation to humanity-if
America would conserve her own interests,
if she would give her own institutions free
and harmonious element in which to utter
ard evolve themselves, If she would pro-
ampler prosperity, liberty and happiness,
she must either nightly increase her
ornaments on land and sea or she must
do her best to negate the growing spirit
of militancy and to wither the robust and
destructive arm of war.
And If the desire for universal disarma-
ment should be the attitude of our Nation,
much more and for yet greater reason
should it be the attitude of the church
everywhere throughout the Christian world.
Strange is ii not. that hardly word should
have been spoken by the church in con-
firmation of this the most Christian Mes
sage ever sent forth by any King, Emperor
or President or ruler into the wilderness
of strife and conflict? Strange THAT 1T
should have found no responsive echo in
the one institution that, in contradistinction
to all others, has its foundation iii the Eos-
pei Of good will and peace! Strange that
and the press of Christendom so mute!
Here the mghtiest dynast Of his age, the
man whose rule seems 10 be the very in
carnation of world lust. of the Ruthless
genius of physical might and destruction.
rises UP and says to all the Christian ma
tions, Stay. let us disarm, let us freq the
heavy and oppressive burdens now imposed
upon them by our stuDendous military es-
adjustments; let us give honest toll a
chance to practice thrift and enlarge its
area of felicity; let us come, II not to
peace basis. at least as near to it as pcs
sible: let us rely less upon force and arms
and more on intellectual light and moral
sentiment; let us follow in aur ''loternTeo
ernments, not the fierce destructive method
of Caesar; but rather the mild construct
And yet. scarce minister of the church
in any nation has answered lack 10 the
Emperor of all the Russias, We'll DONE
thou brave man. thou good and faithful
servant. thou worthy ruler OF mighty peo-
plei What think you would be the word
of our Master were He speaking an AUDIBLE
gospel to the churches of to day, IS He
spoke to the Galilean peasants long ago?
To the worlds boundaries His word. clear
strong resonant, commanding. would go
out 'Disarm, We hosts of men Disarm.
We nations principalities and powers OF
earth. disarm. Lay aside every implement
of wrath, every instrument that ministers
to destruction sorrow. woe and death, and
believe and know that that nation 0rly is
mighty and shall survive the wreck of king
doms whose sceDter is mildest and vht Sc
heart is strongest in the wisdom. the au-
thority and the imperial sovereignty of
love-