The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-01
WARS AND THE PEOPLE.

Two wars and a peace conference to
prevent wars have constituted the most
notable events of the past year Ons OF
these wars, that In the Philippine islands.
was under way when the conference met,
but the other, that In South Africa, has
broken out sircs Its adjournment, and
with Just as much ease apparently as IL
no pea:e conference had ever been held
and no resolutions adopted looking to
the settlement Of International disputes
by arbitration. This does not signify
that the resolutions adopted by the Peace
G inference were n ere buncombe. or
that the gathering was one OF hyroorftss
preaching what they did not believe or
did not intend to practice. 1t signifies
simply that good resolutions, even when
made with the utmost sincerity. are
difficult OF application when there arises
strong temptation to ignore them. 10
avert wars IL is not enough that rulers
should abhor war and favor settlement
Of disputes by arbitration. The people
must learn to athor war too, enough at
least to be willing to sacrifice something
of national pride to avoid them. Against
a public sentiment clamorous for resort
To the sword to vindioate supposed RICH Is
or avengs real or fanoied wrongs, the
rulers of enlightened states can contend
with not much hope Of success. IL Ia the
fashion to lay the blame for war upon
certain individuals-and perhaps CEN
fury ago when the people had less TO do
with governments than they do today 1t
was to individuals the responsibility
largely belonged; but nowadays in every
enlightened state. a very large part OF II
belongs to the people. But for public olamor
We should never have had war with
Spain. The executive was opposed TO 1t.
and so was large part Of tie legislative
body until 1t had been worked upon by
public clamor. The English cabinet may
have contained men who were anxious to
bring ON a conflict with the 1Tansvaal.
but they could never have succeeded but
for o Br tish public who remembered
Msjuba Hill, and thought 1t saw In a
peaceful settlement Of the dispute with
the little South African republic the
humiliation of British pride. The great
majority Of international conflicts owe
their origin not so much to the questions
in dispute, as to the feelings engendersd
by the discussion of them. and when the
whole public takes part in the discussion
as they do nowadays In almost every en-.
liahtened state the danger IF an inhig
niHoant question being intensified into
casus belli Is greatly increased. One
of the accusations made against the pres.
emit British ministry In the Transvaal
affair is that they disclosed the dispute
with the South African republic for the
purpose of bringing on public discussion
which would exotic British feelings and
rouse British pride. and thus make q
peaceful settlement less easy. That was
doubtless the effect Of the publicity,
though there Ia NO reason to question ths
truthfuinsss of Lord Salisbury's dsolara
ton that no more publicity was given TO
the affair than circumstances compelled
With the people a. potential ~ they art
now in determining the pulley OF everJ
civilized government, no matter whether
1t be republic, limited monarchy or q
dsspotisTn, tt 10 to the people that We mus
look for deiiverance from war;. and tbs
establishments Of peaceful N ct ioi Of
settling international disputes. Until
they have been educated to abhorrenoe
OF war, until they have become oonvincet
that war is . calamity. that 1t 10 opposed
to the material well bsing Of q country
and rstards Its progress and is only justi
fed when undertaken to avert Some
greater evil such as the destruction of thu
state or national dishon or. peace confer
enoss among rulers however sincere and
~sll msapt, will not accomplish much.
That degree Of education 10 ye
In the distance, We fear far II
the distance. There are plenty o
people today who think war helps bust