The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-07
THE ETHICS OF WAR.

NOW mat every day furnishes some
| new movement or action OF military
| character. the miidest hammered Of CT
| toms which govern civilized nations In
their belligerent intercourse. War in
| the earlier history OF the world was "A
| most barbarous and inhuman conflict.
| No consideration OF any kind except
qualification OF the lust 10 kill and
enjoy, restrained the fighters. Every
thing was then regarded as fair in
war. and the annals OF even recent ages
disclose acts Of ferocity which took the
ingenuity OF a fiend 20 devise. The stu
dent Of history may be dispose: to pass
without speculation upon the ultimate
retribution TO the untutored savages who
were little more than wild beasts: but
| he cannot read the stories OF barbarities
perpetrated by civilized and Christian
nations without wondering whether any
compensation is provided for the suf-
fering inflicted in the scheme of final
adjustment.
II is only in recent years that more
enlightened humanity has undertaken
10 confine war within certain limits.
Attempts have been made to render less
harmful to non-combatants the eonse-
quences Of war War is regarded by
some writers as an evil not altogether
without its redeeming qualities. Even
the aesthetic Ruskin. in his Precious
Thoughts" says: War Is productive
of more good than evil Nations have
always reached their highest virtues in
times Of battle. No nation ever yet en-
joyed protracted peace without re-
ceiving ineradicable seeds Of future de-
cline" Count Won Moltke, in a letter to
| Bluntschii, author OF "Droit Interna-
tional." says: Perpetual peace Is a
dream. and it is not even a beautiful
dream. War is an element Of the or
der Of things established by God. The
most noble virtues Of man are developed
by it-courage, disinterestedness. devo-
ton 10 duty and self-sacritice. Soldiers
| give up their lives by it. without war
the world would stagnate, and would
perish in hideous materialism.'
These views are not in accordance
! with the commandment attributed TO the
very highest source: Thou shalt not
kill" Writers on international law
seeking to find II Justification for that
| which they were compelled 10 treat of
as an actual condition. have sought
refuge in some such dogmatism as that
| Of Woolsey, who says that war may be
defined 10 be IAN interruption of state
Of peace for the purpose OF attempting
TO procure good or prevent evil by
| force" That may be a definition OF
just war. but we know Il would not
answer in the case OF many Of those
brutal assaults upon liberty and those
high-handed robberies Of territory which
have been the inspiring motive OF most
| armed conflicts.
Nevertheless. the world does not seem
to be able to do without war and an
| Apologize effort is made by better hui
| man nature to procure at least SEM
| biance OF humanity.
| To that end what are called the
| Christian nations have agreed upon GER
tain rules which each is expected to
| observe. 1t is now understood that al
| though when one nation is at war with
| another. all the citizens OF the one are
| deemed to be in hostility TO the citizens
| OF the other, the status OF uon-conbat-
| ants is recognized. All those persons
| who pursue their ordinary pacific avo-
| dren. ana others who are exempt or are
not organized or called into the military
service % their state during hostilities.
are classed as non-combatants. An
other suggestion 81 humanity is that
| although prisoners may be taken. they
| are not IN be- ulaitreate,i or regarded as
criminals. y prisoner Of war commits
no offense In attempting to escape. and
| cannot Be punished If recaptured. al
though he may be killed during the pur-
| suit.
These modern notions are carried eyen
into the character Of the Instruments
permissible In war. Savages use pol
sanoi arrows, bat now !, is n breach q
| international law 20 use any bullet
which VIII inaiet poisonous wound.
10 use barhel bayone,. detachable
lance head or small explosive bullet.
The tes1 of tho proper Instruments Of
war IS rot in the.r capacity fay innle,-
lng death. bur rather IN their capacity
| tor causing aggravated or unnecessary
! suffering
homtariment - untartiaea places
ana ana Tended towns IS not ROW pcr-
na'@sihle. hat any means may 10 taken