Evening star., 1898-05-03
ARBlrRAMENr OF THE SWORD.
The Advancement of Civilization HI.
Not Amended the Process.
L

The Advancement of Civilization Has
Not Amended the Process.
From the London Chronicle
So once more the world Is face to face
with war between two Christian nations
All the advances of civilization, all the les
| sens from the horrors and failures Of past
wars. all the teaching Of ministers of re-
ligion, all the efforts of peace societies. all
the dread inspired by the colossal destruc-
tive powers Of modern armies and navies
are together urable to prevent the old ar
bitrament Of the sword. The song Of Tubal
Cain still echoes round the world today-it
is sword and spear, spear and sword, and a
health to the man who can WELD them
well, for he shall be king and lord. Two
reflections arise naturally In the mind.
First, 1t Is lesson to ourselves not to
build too much upon the inherent improb-
ability of SO dreadful thing as war All
men hate it, and often those who have to
make it, like General Grant, hate it most
We are peaceful nation, and war is es-
pecially repugnant to us. Yet here is proof
before US that day may bring forth war
as Of old, only differing from old war be-
cause 1t will be more terrible, fought in
Eitterer passion and with more potent en-
gines. One thing alone beyond a care to
give 10 needless offense and enter upon no
unworthy quarrel can secure us-the pos
session of strength sufficient to deter those
who would attack us if they could. To
fear God and keep ones powder dry Is the
national obligation now as in Cromwelrs
days.
The second reflection is directly concern
ed with the present struggle. The joint res
olution of Congress emphasizes the fact
that one of the two combatants strikes for
an idea. The United States government ex-
pressly disclains any. disposition or inten-
ton to seek territorial or other advantage
in Cuba. There are American commercial
interests to be safeguarded. of course, but
the first war loan would cover these sew
eral times over. America Is prepared to
give the lives Of her citizens. to expan1
huge sums of money, to impose new taxes
to incur all the thousand inevitable and III
calculable dangers Of war, simply to bring
to an end the atrocfous cruelty and corrup-
ton and hopeless incapacity of Spain In q
fertile island near her own shores. 1.-THE
war in Cuba must stop'-that was what
President Mckinley set out In his message
plain that we In England think the Spain
OF today is the Spain Of the inQuisition.
With q slight modification. we do. Not
Spain in Europe, however. There are many
men enlightened as other Europeans, there
are Individual chivalry and honor. there is
progress, and there Is liberty, notwith-
standing such unspeakable crimes as the
tortures of Montjuich. IL not lost to sight.
But In her colonies Spain Is still the Spain
Of the Incubation. The priesthood. unhin-
dered by secular criticism. re5oices in its
old-time tyranny: the military caste tram
ples unchecked upon all civilian initiative;
the poor man and the worker have no
rights; the native is less regarded than
serf; the point OF honor and the sacerdotal
privilege are welded and the fruit OF the
union Il hatred, despair and ct last revolu-