The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-07-20
Relapse Is Barbarism.

cultural statisti0RNill permit.
BIZ loa.-
Relapse, ], Barbarian.
Probably there, has not in the history
Of any nation cou1e Iabout such an ap-
parently sudden ch&nge Of sentiment as
among the people 81 the United States
after the battle Of Manila.
Before that battle the people were
still seemingly animated by the spirit of
the declaration of independence, and
looked up to the statesmen of the revo-
luton as to men of undoubted wisdom
whose principles and precepts were to
be forever practiced in this land of the
free. After the battle of Manila the de-
moniac spirit of conquest and militar-
ism and disregard of the rights of hui
manity seems to have taken possession
of the public mind AS Israel turned,
from the warship of Jehova to the false
gods of the heather nations around
them, so it seems that the people of the
United States are forsaking their origi-
nal covenant and are gone running
after the false god of militarism of the
so-called great powers of the earth.
One can scarcely pick up a newspaper
without seeing this spirit evinced. 1t
Is the same imperial voice of the dragon
everywhere. If this is more than the
drunken spell of nation. that seems to
have grown tipsy from so small thing
as the victory over an enfeebled and
enervated nation, the victory at Manila
may turn out to be the greatest mis-
fortune that has ever befallen this
country.
One of the most striking exhibitions
OF the new spirit that has come under
my observation is an article in the
Farmers Tribune for June 16. It is
difficult to believe that it expresses the
genuine convictions of any writer, but
rather that 1t is an inspiration from
the powers that be-" 1t seems to be
one of the products of which want is
the father and servility the mother;
for else, how could any one write such
Internal trash.
The article is a plea for maintaining
large standing armies; and it's first ar
gument is, that millions of men must
be kept from useful work in order that
a part of the working people may get
higher prices for their products. The
writer quotes European as saying: IF
the millions of soldiers in Europe re-
turned to their homes and a large per-
centage of them set at work raising
food, as they undoubtedly would be,
where would you Americans find mar
ket for your surplus grain?" A serious
question, no doubt, to American farm
ers, at least until =, matters were re-
| adjusted to suit changed conditions.
But what about the people of Europe
who have to pay higher prices for the
imported grain?. It is miserable kind
of prosperity that is built upon the sui
ferings of our fellow beings. 1t is GER
tain that the reasoning quoted.is not in
concordance with Christian principles
And even if Christian principles, as is
often the case, are rejected as "senti
mental" it ought to be evident to all
sensible people that policy which ben
ef1ts only part of humanity, to the det-
riment of others, will in the end be
nurtruI to all.
And then, just think of it! What
stupendous piece of folly it is to assert
that the production of too much food
or of too much of life's necessities will
make life miserable.
The next argument of the Tribune
writer is: That armies and navies form
barrier against the incursions of the
uncivilized and savage races, and that
they also compel the smaller powers to
keep the peace. AS to the uncivilized
and savage races, there is great prob
ability that if the "civilized" races will
mind their own business the uncivilized
will mind theirs. Ever since the dis
covery of America it has not been the
uncivilized races that have made incur
sions into the territory of civilized ma
lions, but the latter who have made in
cursions into the territory of the
former. And, under any circumstances,
millions of men would not be necessary
for defense against them. AS to the
smaller powers-they are not likely to
break the peace. Let the great nations
place a police guard over such men as
Jamison, Cecil Rhodes, Walker and
other filibusters before they presume to
assume the guardianship over foreign
nations.
"If Rome had possessed firearms in
the height of her power" says the writ
er, "the city would never have been
taken by the barbarians, and the Ro-
man civilization would not have been
overwhelmed and lost in the Dark
Ages" The writer. is mistaken in his
reference to RIme's history. 1t was
not in the height Of her power that
Rome was taken by the barbarians. 1t
was when she was rotten to the core,
when her citizens were too effeminate
to bear arms, when. corruption stalked
about in broad daylight, and when
wealth was concentrated in the hands
of few persons. While the mass of the
people formed an immense prObtariat.
In the days of Roman virtue Rome
could not have Beer overwhelmed nv all