The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-17
THE TRUEST PATRIOTISM.

The most distinguished scholars, re-
nowned rulers, celebrated clergymen,
profound statesmen and eminent SOL
diers in the world are taking an active
interest in the proceedings of the
great peace conference at The Hague
No matter what may be the immediate
outcome of the session the honest eff
forts there made to substitute arbitra-
ton for war in settling international
disputes and the encouragement re-
ceived by the world of interested on
q lockers will be productive of good
1t is only a question of time after the
minds of men have been turned into
the right channel, until the reforms are
begun and the right is established. The
civilization of today views with horror
the brutal methods of coercion and
revenge that strong nations some
times try to infiict upon the weak, and
wars of conquest and subjugation are
none the less repulsive because carried
on in the name of humanity
The shedding of human blood, the
bartering of human chattels, the trans
fer of human beings by one power to
another, the destruction of property
and the spoliation of lands-that is
war. It may conquer, but it leaves
hatred in its wake and revenge camp
ing ever after upon its trail.
1t is the object of the rulers and
statesmen and soldiers who perceive
these truths 10 agitate the growing
antagonism to war and to hasten the
time when nations will cease to lay
hands upon the sword at a bite of the
tongue as men used to do in the middle
ages; when they Will try, as orderly,
rational and peaceable citizens of
civilized countries are expected to try,
every possible honorable means to pre-
serve peace and secure satisfaction. It
is the purpose of arbitration SYM
pathizers, too, to teach the glory of
peace nd the horror of war
This is the day of commerce and
communion The schoolmaster is
abroad in the land and the missionary
is establishing little red school houses
all over the earth. 1t is an age of
commerce; conquest belongs to an
other era 1t is a time of trade ex-
pansion rather than extension of do
main carried On at the point of the
bayonet. The roar of cannon was once
the sweetest music to the ears of men,
They listen to the hum of machinery
and joyous laughter from the home
With far greater pleasure now
There are benighted souls who seem
to think that war talk is patriotism,
and they generally take it out in talk
even when war comes as a last resort.
True patriotism is founded upon love
of country and not upon any desire to
see it precipitated in a needless con-
flict or involved in a struggle from
which it must emerge, however vic
torious, without the gain of a. bit of
glory. 1t is a passion born of rights
demanded or the defense of privileges
already acquired. To fight for ones
country upon the field of battle when
the occasion justifies and national
pride requires it is certainly an exhi-
bition of patriotism. but it is by no
means the only nor yet the greatest
demand that is made upon the liberty
of the citizen. If enemies undertake
10 overthrow the country which gives
a man birth or refuge, if he is a
patriot and has the power, he will
drive them back; and when upon the
high seas or their own land his fellow
countrymen are maltreated by a for
eign power which has the full consci-
business of the wrong it does, he may
with propriety undertake to enforce