The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-07

sions to contemplate the frightful ca
lamities occasioned by war. Genera
Sherman remarked in his own blunt an6
expressive language that war was hell.
Happening to converse with Genera
Sheridan I questioned about his Vir
ginia campaign His face assumed ar
expression of sadness, and with 6
mournful voice he said he hoped never
to witness another war.
! "Is it not a mockery Of Justice and a
scandal to the pagan world to see two
Christian nations cutting each other
throat in the name of Christian civili-
cation?
rs 1t not an outrage to contemplate
one nation forcing by the sword her
laws, her government and political in
situations on another nation, in the in
terests of trade and commerce, as 1T
merchandise and dollars and cents were
of more value than human lives? Is 1t
not monstrOus to see a strong power IN
vading a weak one and seizing her ter
ritories on The hypocritical plea of rec
| tifying her boundaries? This rectifica-
tion of boundaries is very old practice,
and is a polite name for robbery on
large scale.
king Achab and Queen Jesabel, two
| of the most infamous tyrants that ever
reigned, rectlfied their boundaries by
Selling the vineyard Of Naboth and by
putting to a cruel death that innocent
man.
THE old Roman empire two thousand
years ago was constantly engaged in
rectifying it's boundaries. 1t did not
stop till 1t had annexed all of Europe
and a good slice of Asia and Africa,
But the day Of retribution came at last.
The warlike tribes of the north swooped
down like avenging eagles on that de-
caying and corrupt body--the Roman
empire-and rectif1ed her boundaries
over again. The empire was dismem-
bered, and the map of Europe was
changed.
Cicero tells us that when a pirate
was once brought before Alexander the
Great the general reproached him for
his crimes on the high seas. You are
greater robber and murderer than T.
replied the pirate, for while ! have
plundered and slain few, you are the
slayer and robber of nations He went
on adjusting his boundaries till he had
overrun a large portion of Asia. But
very soon after his death these boun-
daries were readjusted by his generals.
1T Is subject of great concern to
the friends Of the gospel of peace that
Christian Europe presents to-day the
spectacle of huge military camp. All
the nations of the continent as well as
England, are armed to the teeth, and
are living in mutual dread and distrust
of each other. They are devoured by
an Unsuitable ambition Of conquest and
dominion or by a fear of invasion
When you see heavy clouds surcharged
with the electricity of war hanging over
these nations you may expect the thun-
der-clap of battle to resound at any
moment. Armed nations like armed in
dividuals are a constant menace to one
another, and are easily provoked to
fight.
And these military forces instead Of
diminishing are unhappily increasing
every year. As soon as one nation aug
ments its armament, it's neighbor feels
impelled to do likewise In self protec-
ton. According to report complied
and published in 1887, from official
sources, the army list of Europe on
war footing comprised nearly fourteen
millions of men, and the annual cost Of |
maintaining the military establish |
ments even IN time of peace, exceeded |
six hundred millions Of dollars At |
the present time the cost would proba- |
bly, amount to one thousand millions
When we consider the immense num-
her 0f that tpVy no |
bosom of their families In the prime |
Of life that are Withdrawn from active |
industrial pursuits. when we see these
young men vegetating in idleness in
time of peace, and luxuriating in H. |
cense and dissipation in time of war
we may form some idea of the moral, |
and social evils resulting from
such a system. In contemplating these
standing armies, the calm observer might |
De forced to conclude that European
governments were primarily establish
I'd to destroy, rather than to save life,
10 foster happiness and develop the re-
sources Of q country.
May God so guide our legislators and
statesmen that they may never be be-
-rayed into initiating European govern
nents by the establishment of formid-
tble standing armies. God forbid that
We ourselves flushed with recent vic
cries should ever become intoxicated
With the wine of imperialism and mill
arism, but may we always follow the
traditions Of the Fathers of the Repub-
ic.
Hitherto We have presented to the
world a beautiful spectacle. Europeans
accustomed at home to meet soldier
II gendarme at every street corner, on
thriving in this country have been fill
ID with surprise and admiration that
! nation of so vast an extent. and with
uch an immense population contains |
IN army of only twenty-five thousand
men, They have been forcibly Impress
d with the fact that they can travel
rom Maine t. California without meet
ng single solder. They see that ev-
ry citizen OF the United States is a
older without uniform engaged in the
.ctive pursuits OF life, and ready at
notice to defend his country
hey would feel that we are a strong
alton because we cheerfully bow to the
majesty Of the law, and are not con-
ronted and inundated by military
atraps. May this fair picture never be
Iefaced
Every Christian nation of the world
as its own national flag; 1t fights I'M
er its own chosen leaders, 1t listens
0 its own favorite war cry. s
put iG hon hnfn |