Evening journal., 1899-04-08
ARnIrRATIoN Ys. WAR.


The Christian EndeayOr movement
for war against war and peace by
arbitration is attracting much atten-
ton in this country which has just
passed through a grave national crisis.
10 has been recognized by two OF our
ex-presidcnts. Grover Cleveland and
benjamin Harrison, and both have
openly expressed themselves on the
subject The former says:
The members and friends q, the So
ciety OF Christian Endsavor have never
entered upon an undertaking so prac-
tical and so mobile as the effort they are
now making TO secure an Abandonment
cf war aa means for the settlement
OF International differences; and II
there is any substance to the claim
that institutions and the traits
that characterize us as a people tend
to national t,evation and Christlaniza.
tiOn, q Is eminent.y proper that our
country should be in the lead i'm any
movement N the interests cf peace
Mr.. Harrison does not believe that
the principle advanced by the Christian
lsrdeay0rers is applicable at the pres
ent time as the following extract from
his letter clearly indicates:
For myself, and much. more for the
great body Of it's citizenship, I express
1.-THE desire of America for peace with
the whole world. Ii would have BEEN
vain to suggest the pullng down ci
lllOck houses or family disarmament 10
the settlers on a hostile Indian from
ltlcr. They would have told you rightly
hat tho conditions were net r'pe. And
SO Il may be, and is, probably true
that full application OF the principle
is not presently possible, the devil s,Hl
being unclaimed. IL is by spirit cl
Hove and forbearance, masterir,p tbs
/ lCivil institutions and governments ci
the world, that we shall approach
universal peace and adopt arbitration
methods Of settling disputes.
! Controversies arising between ma
tions are nearly always settled ty ar
lbitraton or through their Respective
embassies. IL is emily whsn these me-
diums fail OF their purposes that wal
is resorted to. and then net until the
hand OF one or the othar Of lshe oontr5-
versial governments is forced by rub.
lie sentiment, the great lever which TO-
day moves the ciy1ized world
The whole trend 0f the d.
lplomacy OF tho world is 10.
wards peace, and the records cf the
foreign relations OF the nations WI
prove It oonc,uslvely. But there comss
a time when one OF the parties to an
international controversy becomes sc
unreasonable and so Obstinate. or else
ontTtains such unacceptable ideas oil
the mode Of settlement or a vexed
question that even the verdict Of arbl-
traitors would not be accepted by ths
people, and their representatives ar,
forced TO adopt sangulnary methods ct
settlement
1t is only by a long and systemati,
course Of education that war can b,
made unpopular in all nations. and un,
Ill that is done both armies and navie.
will exist. A nation which is firm.
convinced that war is both unnocessaru
and cruel must hold itself in readiness
fer war so lCng as its naighbors stant
en- a war-fcoting. II the Christian
Eadeavorers can work up a worldwide
sentiment in favor Cf arbitration. peaa
and disarmament. as Win have per
formed a stupendous and glorious task
but We fear that the present promoter
Will never live to see the accomplish
! mdrt G. thdir purposes.