The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
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re French people so marked now
as their dread of war. This Is
IzCTG9I dramatically true of the peas
- ants and IL Is perhaps their love
OF peace tiat has drawn them so rapidly
toward the Liberals. the Radicals and the
Socialists, who represent, in a most dog
matte manner the pacific policy. 1t Is
striking fast that during a third OF cen
fury no member of Parliament has dared
TO take VI. belligeFent programme not
a minister has ventured TO propose war
policy-evep a war of revenge with Ter
many in the past or a war Of conquest Win
Morocco new-as a thing to be desired III
we wish to. know the ruling passion OF the
masses we have only to ascertain what
demagogueA promise them. So strong nave
been the pacific feelings of the lower
classes that when the question came up
the professional politicians have always
had peace as their watchword
The fundamental conceptions OF war nave
also greatl- changed. There have always
been-there: are still-men to glorlfy war
as an instrument Of moral elevation as
means OF heroic culture. Formerly IN pop
uIar oratorv the great theme was the pencil
cence Of war its lessons or sacrlnce anu
of courage. Under the second empire teacn-
ers missed no opportunity to recall the VIC
tories Of Napoleon 1. the moral and eco
nomic benefits which followed. France mas
moved since then. Her historians have laid
bare the harm done to their country and
TO those OF others by international con-
ficts: economists have shown the cost OF
war. and sociologists have demonstrated
that war deteriorates a nation devoted TO IL
that IL eliminates the strongest and the
e. 10 fho hos In
terests of democracy, etc. Many military
chiefs have been obliged TO admit that
the life of the barracks is far from up
lifting Under the strain of criticism some
noble leaders like General Gallieni have
endeavorsd to transform the soldier into
colonial pioneer. others have done much
10 improve the life of the soldiers, but the
institution Of the extensive standing army,
admitted generally as a necessary evil. is
recognized by at least the party in power.
as a burden to be lessened by all available
means, and war as calamity of all calam-
tiles to be avoided. A movement so potent
could not but call forth q. reaction.
AS Free-thinkers. Protestants, Israelites
and literal Catholics were generally won to
this new conception of war and of the army,
II was natural that the Ultramontanes
OF war, at least gain the support of the
army by posing as it's champion. A noble
spirit, the late Father Didau, superior of
the Dominican school of Arceutil, near
Paris on q very important occasion. with
an eloquenee worthy OF a better cause, rep
resented the soldier as the minister of ci-
vine Providence. Since then militant Cath
oiics. and especially the orders, have been
foremost in celebrating the virtues of mill
tarism. The have encouraged the faithful
among the nobility to enter the army. 1t
follows thai the greater part of the general
staff is from the higher classes and Cath
olic This was a clever move enough had it
been practical, but France has the
misfortune of having an army, the head of
which is conservative, aristocratic and
Catholic, while the body is in the main radi-
cal, democratic, and at best religiously in
different. Hence a genuine contempt of
officers for private and generous hatred
of soldiers for their chiefs, some of whom
have come to understand the purpose of
their monastic friends. Recently some Off
GERS were riding past the pupils of the
friars OF Cambray. At once was heard the
unanimous cry Of 'Vive Parmeei' One of
the officers turned round and said, ''Do not
scream rrive Parmee,' but 'Vive la
France" AS was to be expected, French
wits were not slow in finding formula to
express their contempt OF this insincere adj
miration and so called these religious reac-
tionaries ''Vivelarmistes," a term which
conveys an untranslatable sarcasm. The
religious opposition, so unwise in its de-
tense Of the orders. has not succeeded any
better In reviving the cult Of militarism.
On the other hand the idea OF peace. of ar
bitration, OF reduction of ornaments, of d.
minishing military burdens. is marking it's
way with sreat rapidity and has expressed
itself In numerous organizations and con-
crosses and has found place in the polit-
ical programme Of the party In power. The
upholders OF this movement are known as
pacifistes.
1t is quite fitting that there should be
such an acceleration OF progress of the
pacific idee. for 1t was In France that the
thought Of the rational abolition OF
was first expressed by the minister Of Hen
ry w, Sully. Since then the Able De Saint
Pierre. Nine. De Stael. Beranger, the st.
Simonians-and Enfantin in particular
were active workers for international peace.
In 1s4s there was held the congress of peace
In Paris. IN many ways the most successful
one ever held. 1t was presided over by Vic
tor Hugo. whose opening address was pro-
phetic OF the better days which now appear
upon the horizon. Notwithstanding the UNI
friendliness of the second empire a peace
society was formed in Paris in 1867. Similar
societies have been and are still organized
with increasing rapidly. International
congresses were held In 1889 and 1900 in
Paris The InterparliamentuTy Conference
was organized in the same city by NJ. Fred
eric Passy. the veteran worker for peace
The several peace societies hold annually
congress To give unity and force to their
efforts. The recent brilliant speech of NJ
Jauris on behalf of better international re-
lations Is still in the memory of all NJ
ID Estournelles De Constant succeeded In
gathering around him group of go men,
bers OF Parliament pledged TO the cause of
arbitration. few weeks ago the advisa-
bility OF referring all cases OF international
difficulties TO arbitration was referred TO
sixty-one .conseils-generaux departmental
assemblies. sixty of them reported as ia
vorable Only a few days before NJ
Combes. speaking at the dedication of the
Renan monument. said that the govern
ment Of the repuhIic was won o,,ar f,o... a.