Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-16
7qventiet5 Century Warfare.
BY PAssIE FENroN orTLEx.

century may be ranked among the
worlds disappointments to be COM
pared only to those of the individual
child who discovers that Alexander
was not really so high he'd reach the
sky" or who finds that he feels no
bigger in his teens" than out Of
them. fe-
1t is hard to say just what the world
child expected to be ushered in by 1900,
but 1t seemed, somehow certain that
the wonders of social development
which budded so rapidly in the latter
part of the nineteenth century would
improve this most appropriate season
for bursting into flower and that we
should all sit around gazing in.rapture
at the acme of peace and plenty in a
society dominated by mainsprings OF
cooperation and altruism somewhat
as we witness the rare and Joyous
blossoming of the century plant.
That nothing of the kind has hap
pened has been a painful surprise. as
has been evidenced by the comments
of press and people. .E A'.
1t is so hard to realize that social
evolution proceeds by process SINH
lar to that by which teeth are re-
newed. The old in manners, customs
and standards, whether ethical econ
omic or social, being pushed out by
the new growing up under It Hence
both old and new are co-existent and
Gin the latter easel often operate at
cross purposes, causing the chaos OF
time of rapid social development like
the present. Hence the Earring disap-
pointment to many who, looking for
advancement. find what they deem
retrogression. ..4
To such there seems an absolute
forfeiture, of good faith on the part of
the century In what is termed the
worlds return. to barbarism." 1t
does seem a bit hard that the period
which, was to float in under the aegts
of white-bannered peace should in
stead show us a return to war and
carnage on the part of the two nations
who have so long stood head In the
worlds class in civilization. And yet,
I think, an incommensurate import
ance has been attached to this return
to war on the part of England and the
United States incidents which are, IN
reality, more dramatic than sigI11ti-
can't In wondering at their unexpect-
ed appearance we are likely to miss
the real signs of the times which less
blatantly demand our attention.
I venture to say that except as we
have been hypnotized by the illustrated
papers (Which for months have given
us nothing but 'scenes before Bloem-
fOntein, Cavite or Pexin, which to
the average observer are only distin-
guishable by reason of the pointed hats
of the Chinamen) the wars of 1900 and
1901 have been and are the least inter
esting and vital incident in the worlds
progress at this time.
Never again will wars Of annihila-
ton or subjugation hold first place in
A. will a hat
ties fiercer and more relentless than Of
old, but they will be constructive
rather than destructive, and they will
have for aim the saving of life and
the promotion of conditions that bet
ter and brighten Il, not the taking of
life or the forcible grabbing of terri
tory.
Never again will the standing UP Of
rows of men to be shot at be a vital
point in history and the existence OF
such a thing today is to the social
organism just as the old tooth is to the
physical structure-an unimportant
survival
Can anybody believe that the re-
turn of ''Bobs'' to England to receive
a medal and half million dollars for
ending a conflict which is stin In full
swing or the -mnneuvers of our troops
in the small but expensive war which
we bought from Spain are really mat
tiers of first interest or Of vital signi-
ficance in the days work OF the worldF
Does one say that the loss of hui
man life must give to war high rank
in social INTEREST,"
Not at ALL Far more lives are be-
ing lost daily all over the world IL
ways almost as avoidable If not so
foolish.
Furthermore there are worse things
than losing ones life. One of them Is
to have to live it under such conditions
as robs it of joy or value.
The real battles of the twentieth
century are being waged against the
greater and more numerous social
menaces which threaten the life and
the well-being of the human race.
Their battle ranges over vast terri
tory and in them lies our real interest.
Witness, for instance. the struggle
OF the two giants of organization,
Labor and Capital. In its various
ramifications 1t far surpasses in in
terest the battle of the mouse and the
elephant in South Africa, or the
frantic effort of Uncle Sam to secure
a seat in the Philippines.
A better life for all the people is the
stake for which the real cohorts Of
the world are battling and the "ene-
my" is acknowledgements, pow
erty, sickness, sin.
Those who lead the warfare against
these great foes are the twentieth
century generals, beside whom Funs-
ton and Roberts. Kitchener and Dew
ey are back numbers.
This warfare is being carried on by
means OF the most marvellous volun-
tary combination and organization OF
individuals We have spoken of the
combinations of labor and capital
which are social wonders in their
scope and effect. Equally as wonder