The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-09
THAT EUROPEAN DISARMAMENT.

THAT EUROPEAN DISARMAMENT.
Tho St petersburg correspondent OK
tho London Daily Telegraph says in that
paper.
almost an the European powers have
sent favorable replies TO the circular OF
Emperor Nicholas. and 10 IS now rec
garded as certain that the disarmament
congress will meet in ST. Petersburg in
Novsmtcr."
This whole disarmament business seems
TO ms the most gigantic farce of the
worlds history. We have not the slight
est idea that any European Power is
going 10 disbsnd its army. and we can
not see. therefore why any of them take
the matter seriously enough 10 send dele
gates to a congress even. What Russia
could have been up TO in proposing the
congress no one can make out and
though the young Car, who does not
know much. may have some fine sent-
mental ideas of the benefcence Of peace
and the figure he would cut in history as
the leader in movement to dIsband
armies. yet The Russian oligarchy which
really rules Russia has no more idea of
seriously considering a proposition TO dis
band the Russian army than IL has Of
considering a proposition TO disrupt the
empire. Russian polity stands upon the
sword. and If the principle Of military
organization were eliminated from that
polity Russia would truly become ship
Of state drifting without rudder or COM
pass 1t would be necessary to reorgan-
ize the whole social fabric. and what
would happen IN Russia while society was
going through the process Of reorganiza-
ton with no mailed hand TO hold its cou-
glomerate parts I'm union, no man can
imagine. Something very near kin TO
chaos would prevail there If IT did not
absolutely engulph the whole country
Russia has stood too long as a military
despotism for any transition from that
state to be accomplished except by the
strictest and most guarded movements.
and the other Powers are not going TO
disarm at once leaving Russia wholly
armed for a time and only hoping to bee
disarmed at the end of an experimental
process. We are very sorry to believe
that there is nothing but Duucumo
and hollow pretence in this whole bust
ness. 1t would undoubtedly Doe for the in
calculable benefit of mankind that Europe
should disband her great armies and con-
fine her military organization TO what is
necessary for ordinary police duty. But
the military idea has taken such deep
root there that 80 viii require many
years Of asslduous teaching from tine
ablest of school masters FOR tina, idea 70
be eradicatcd ana while public sentiment
remains with its present coiorns the eff
fort to dlsband Will De vain, on that ace
count, irrespective of the supposed rea-
sons of state that will control rulers.
The policy Of continental Europe upon
the subject may be fairly judged Dy what
the German emperor said on Wednesday
last in his speech at Port Wesphaua.
He said:
Peace win never be better guaranteed
than By the German army thoroughly eff
hcient and prepared for war, sections OF
which We now have the pleasing oppor-
tunity of seeing and adm.rng. God
grant we may always be able 10 care for
the worlds peace with this keen and
well-preserved weapon
That does not exhibit much OF the spirit
Of disarmament. and the worst of II is
that the sentiment which rules Europe !
is Overwhelmingly responsive to what |
the emperor said.
II Russia were sincere in her movement |
and Germany could be brought into it,
yet we do not see how the thing could be
accomplished. The situation and condi-
ton of Englands immense and scattered
empire makes it imperative that she
shall keep mp her navy. Nothing could
ever induce the English people 20 aban-
don that Yet how can there be gen
eral disarmament when the most power
ful nation Europe has notifies the other
Powers In advance that she Will, under
no conditions. give mp her fleet; that
would place all the others at her mercy
when they had dsarmed? This alone, !
We fear ends all possibility of disarma-
ment. even if there were any sincerity |
in The proposition. which We do not be- |