The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-20
PLEADS FOR REIGN OF PEACE.
Rev. Alfred ". Martin Deprecates
the Prevailing WarIike Spirit.

Last evening at the G.. a Il. hail. In
TIE Collins building. Rev Alfred W Mar
TN delivered the fourth discourse in his
series on Present Day Issues" His
subject was "The Influence of MiIitarism
on Civilization" He handled the theme
In an independent and forctble manner.
stating that the topic was most timely
and one which Americans would do well
to consider.
The world" he said. lis ruled bv
thoughts, and the thoughts OF Americans
will rule America"
Referring 80 the fourth object for
Which his society Is organized. the Gull
tivaton and spread Of the spirit OF
peace" Mr.. Martin said:
Peace Is a noble and most engaging
ideal, but II we are to promote its real
ization il can only be as the war spirit
and Ideals advocated 10y prominent po-
lticai persons are dtsowned. Even now.
amid the clash Of arms. when the blast
OF wars great trumpet shakes the skies
We must demonstrate against the war
spirit Of the time. II we don't then.
whether We like IL or not. we shall have
more war In the future instead Of less.
This grim truth is that the spirit OF
miiitarIsm is prevalent to an astonishing
degree, proving that. after all. our civill-
cation is only I'm the bulldog stage of
its evolution.
Yet 40 history. ne story-book begins
10 tell us the horrors OF war-Eeretscha-
gin with his brush and the Baroness Won
Sutlner with her pen have depicted its
full and CHASTITY truth. People some
times say that war Is moral tonic
necessary source OF courage and patriot
ssnl Hut our own history exposes the
fallacy Of this notion. Between 1919 and
1861 We had no great war TO speak Of,
only f.iibustering expeditions, yet when
in 1851 courage was called for neither
the North nor the South lacked It. SO
again from ISIS 10 iStN there was no war.
nor even preparations for war. yet when
this cai came men from every avocatoa
s~f.e
Gov Roosevelt. y man ~ great courage.
would have Us believe that any war IL
better than war. thar war is needed
IN cultivate courage and loyalty bat the
facf@ az our own history plainly disprovo
II These manly virtues are all cHlti-
waited in the peaceful arts. ready -
spring up whenever occasion demands
And II war IL not needed 10 promote
physical courage, much Less * II needed
10 foster moral courage. In fae battles
II dairy iifr with folly ard vanity ard
settIshness. we have abundant chances 10
cultivate moral courage and unless Il be
hshind physical courage the latter does
not amount 20 much. W bat ~ have 10
fear in modern society 81 not so much
thu tarhrt8s and Sullivaps as the Ward
NcAIlIsIeTE~-the men who have money
for the 5eage.ry store. but poae for tha
refoYriigr. who ran up biz bills At thctF
rlvb. hut give not X cent 10 worthy
rauNes GIVE Us unsciush men with
moral courage back oI their gi5TSlcal
courage aud American tR&nacoG can 4ANS
the future without fear
The bottom difficulty IN 1isr prooieTn
or CIVILIZATION - si32t we are only half
civilized ana we can expect - eraai-
cs+s var tnta we become fully civil
iena uglu moral evolution has advanced
- klsh stage Iset us have = genera
tton az men who have been pom again.
yxho have got rid OF sha nisi fts3a of war.
men az good ssitf. uen wh@ apply one
moral standard 10 nations as H. EfUEse-
rgsy gag. then, the right order u
y,sf. America. aud ushas 81 Fhe be8eaCent
en- nt peale.