The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-11
ICcIStcl'$ Roast,
Disarmament Conference the most
KVpceritIeal Hffalr Of the Hoe.

10 give MS opinion as 70 the nOSL e.
fective means Of causing interna tiona1
disarmament. The letter from Sweden
was signed by four members Of the riks-
dag, an editor, two professors, one mill
tary physician, q mission superintendent,
a teacher and others
Gentlemen-The thought, so well ex?
pressed in your excellent letter, that in
ternationaI disarmament can be effected
in the easiest and most certain manner
through the refusal OF individuals 10 do
military service IS altogether correct In
deed, I believe that this is the one way
TO free mankind from the constantly in
creasing terrors of miIitaryism. Your
opinion. however. as to how the military
duty Of those who refuse to kill their fel-
Iow-men shall be decided by the peace
conference at The Hague seems TO ne
altogether wrong.
In the first place, no good can be ex-
pected from The Hague. because this con-
ference IS the most hypocriticaI affair Of
the age, whose aim is far from peace and
dimiuution Of armament. On the con-
trary its purpose is 10 hide these evils
from the world While its alleged pur-
pose is 70 deliver mankind from this
bane, it proposes false means and in this
way blinds the eyes Of men to the only
means Of rescue.
It IS asserted that the object OF the con-
ference L, il not total disarmament, al
least q check on future armament. II is
really expected that the various govern
ments or their delegates VIII agree TO not
increase either their armies or their IA
vies. If this were the case the question
involuncarily presents itself: What will
be the attitude Of the delegates Of those
powers VINO are al present weaker than
their neishbors?
Il Is improbable that these powers wilt
be satisfied 10 remain weaker than Their
neighbors also N the future, should they
really consent TO remain weaker and rely
on the protection Of the resolutions Of the
conference, then they would dispense wiki
all efforts 70 increase their armies.
Should. however, the conference decide
TO equaEze the military strength of the
powers, provided such an almost impos-
si5le equalization could be effected, the
question invariably arises: Why should
not the various governments be content
with the present armament and gradu-
ally seek 70 diminish Il? Why should, for
instance, Germany. France and Russia
instead Of maintaining their enormous
hosts, not be content with each a hun
dred thousand, ten thousand, or a thou
sand men? If diminuuou is practicable
why not 90 down 10 the minimum And,
finally, why not follow the sample of Da-
vid and GoEah, and reduce the army OF
each nation 10 one soldier and decide in
ternational conflicts by the victory Of the
one or the other?
During the siege Of Sepastopol, Prince
UrUssow. who was famous as an intrepid
officer and one Of the best chess play
eFs Of his time. proposed 10 the chief Of
the garrison. General Sequin. instead Of
resOrting TO further battle for TIE pos
session Of q certain stronghold. 10 play
a game Of chess. rather than 10 kill hui
man beings for it. As often as it was
conquered the stronghold fell again into
the hands of the enemy
General Sequin would not acquesc in
the proposition Of Prince U-russow for the
simple reason that even if his champion
won the English commander would al
once send his battali9ns with bayonets to
reconquer the stronghold the moment our
osldiers should stop defending II.
It IS, therefore, obvious that the pow
ers viii not consent 10 diminish their ar
maments, for they fear that some day
Napoleon or a Bismarck who care
nothing for treaties or international
agreements, VIII turn UP and lay violent
hand on anything they covet.
As long as there are armies they are
necessary, If not 10 make new conquests.
at least TO retain by force what has been
conquered by force. The acquisition and
the maintenance OF territory can only be
accomplished by victories. Only the ar
mics, however, are the victors, and If the
government insists upon maintaining ar
mies-tLey mus, be as strong as possible
This IS the duty OF every government.
and in this consists the justification Of the
existence Of the armies.
The governments can DO much toward
the ameliorat.oH of the international con-
ditions. They can give liberty TO the
people They can enlighten and enrich
them, build fine roads and canals for
them; they caa coIonize deserts, employ
idle capital for public works. But one
thing they cannot dO-the very thins for
which the conference has been called to-
Eether-they cannot decrease their mill
tary strength.
In the first place the governments can
not voluntarily decrease their armies.
nor can they curtail their armameuls.
And this Is the case now more taan ever. /
For ali the powers. including the United |
States, are ooveung possessions in Asia, /
in Africa, or in Europe.
In me Second nj ace v-rs1--
compelled 10 hold by force such parts OF /
their possessions the inhabitants 5f which
strive for independence. Nor can the
conference occupy itself with the prob |
lem Of Jhe refusal Of individuals - full |
fl their military duties, because an ar |
hitrary dininution Of the respective az I
mics would undermine the very t5unda- |
ton Of the powers Interested.
As 10 the people who. from coascient- |
ious motives. refuse TO DO military service.
experience teaches that every government /
treats them as the Russian government (
has treated the Doukobo1a. though ptr- /!
haps in less cruel fashion. While Russia |
IS announcing 70 the whole world her al |
lesed message Of peace, she is torturing. |
destroying and expeHing the most peace |
II. beings II the MUscovige domain. SIM |
9-y because these UnsophIsticated subjects ]
are religleusly convinced that Il is wrozz /
10 XII ,aeir fellow beings who are n3- I
criminals. even L ordered 20 DO so ov the 1
authorities We md things not much !
better N this matter in Austria. France. !
Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and even Hol- /
land Since these gove-amears rule thei- I
subjects by force, vh-ch : issued main /
y by disciplined army, they .canno, con-
sent 70 d;minusion q his force and /
hearken 10 The scruples of individuals. II /
they would consent TO this there would 1