The Portland daily press., 1900-02-06

psndsnos. Il this how ssseslssiess have
been carried on when ycu. my Lord -
head Of the Foreign office. have dealt
with Russia. Turkey. France, or the
Unfesd Ssstesf This 10 not negotiation.
10 IL war-war OF naked aggression; war
wherein the Bosrs viii not Yield without
q 6sspsrats struggle. and afser hloody
by a few victories nor the traces OF 10
wiped out by . few promises nr proolsma-
tons; q war wherein many true ana
patriotio EnRiishmsn dsvoutly trust
that the Beers may not he ultimately
crashed. .Bells ecri piacuis, nuilos
John Morley characterized the war, In o
recent speech, ~ due 10 q conspiracy OF
gold hunters and spectators. and said
the trail Of finance was over 10 all
James Bryce, than whom It would be
hard Co find o more competent or Impair
tiaI observer. IN . reoent work says:
To an kngiishman who examines the
facts with calm ness, six thousand miles
away from the heated atmos phere OF
South Ahios, both accusations appear
equally groundless. There were, no
doubt, some among the English who did
desire to seize the richest gold fields
In the world and we're working hard to
bring on war with that aim. There were
other knglishmen, far more numerous.
who longed 10 humble what they thought
the arrogance Of the Dutch, and, as they
expressed &C. "to wipe out Msjuba HILL"
for the English In South Africa, strange
IA 1t may seem, have nsver forgotten or
| forgiven that petty reverse. But the
great mass of colonial English were
wholly unaffected by the former. and
only siightly affected by the latter motive
What they did wish was 10 bring down
the pride Of the Dutch, TO vindicate the
supremacy Of England IN south Africa.
which they thought endangered, as we'll
as to make the Uitlanders predominant
| in the Iransvasl. With the Free State
they had no quarrel"
Whether Mr.. Laitch entertains the cor
rect view of the origin Of this war or
whether these authorities we have noted
are right, 1t would be folly for us to I'M
dertake to decide. We merely suggest
that as long a. these differing views ex-
ist Mr.. Lsitch can not expect to have his
view aoospted ~ the only true version.
In closing his COMMUNICATION Mr..
Leitch lays down this doctrine:
The time has come In the history Of the
| Anglo-Saxon race when all questions
| touching the differences Of nations
should be discussed and settled on the
basis of the highest good and most bene-
| fit to civilization. VIII the Gauss OF hui
mainly be vtndicated and our ecl,otio
civilization be elevated to higher plan -
of usefulness by either eide riumphingf
II so then that side whose history ana
policy susbtantiates Its claim to champion
the cause OF civilization aad Christianity
should have the ardent support OF in-
telligent and good men.
| That IL to say II one nation attacks
another nation. no matter how wanton-
iy, 1t is to be nrdently supported provid-
ed 1t is believed it's success will promote
humanity and civilization. 1t Is only
small step from this to the doctrine that
II the Anglo-Saxon race conceives the
| idea that the civilization OF q nation ia
not up to its standard 1t can righteous
ly invade that nation and proceed to con-
| fer upon 1t Its own ivilization. Some
centuries ago IL WAS held that to pro-
pagats Christianity by the sword was
doing God service. We thought we had
outgrown that. But Ia propagating
civilization by the sword any moro jus
tIilabis than propagating Christianity by
that msansf And II 1t Is proper for ma
tions which are only collections Of In
dividuals to propagate civilization In this
way. why Ia 1t not proper and commenda.
BILE for individuals TO do so. A good and
discriminating man, clergyman for
Instance. pistol in hand. oan walk through
the streets of Portland most any day and
improve the civilization Of the city BY
occasionally shooting some one whom he
meets who is not up to his standard.
Yet the individual who should do that
sort Of thing would be sent to the psni-
tenriary. IA highwsymnn," said DR..
Franklin, ais AS much a robber when he
plumbers In gang AZ when single; and
natisn which makes an unjust war 10
only a great gang"