The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-02
WARS IN THE INTEREST OF
INDIVIDUALS.

The Washington Post, a carefully edited
and conservative paper comedies with the
Journal as to the improperly of making
private claims international questions. In
a recent editorial on the subject the Jour-
nal commented on the unreas,nableness of
the practice and the danger which II IN
volved to the peace of the world. 1t was
admitted that there are some grievances
which necessarily assume an international
aspect, such as an insult to nations flag.
an attack on its legation or the murder or
arrest of it's citizens, but. said the Journal,
''the claims of individuals arising under
contracts concessions not of this
character. and it is questionable whether
nations should go to war to enforce the col
lection of such claims, especially when they
have not been submitted to any court"
The Post, discussing the same subject UNI
der the caption. ''Debt-Collecting by Armed
Force" says:
Is there any good reason why govern
ments should regard themselves under
obligation to collect the debts due. or
claimed 10 be due, to citizens by parties
in other countries? Is it justihable to wage
war; with its inevitable sacrifices of life
and property, for such purpose? On what
sound ground can the men who constitute
the tghting forces of nations be required TO
risk life and limb in such a cause? Why
should millions of people be taxed to carry
on war for the pecuniary benefit of small
number of their feilow-citizens?
Pursuing the argument implied by these
questions. the Post points out that the
whole tendency of modern civilization is to-
wards not only mitigating the horrors of
war, but towards reducing and limiting its
which. generation or two ago, would have
been considered inevitable causes of war.
are now settled by diplomacy or arbitra-
ton. Many, if not most. of the worlds
wars of past years would now be consid-
cred unjustifiable, yet most of them were
waged for a better cause than the enforce
ment of the payment of private claims.
lone of the unfittest of all survivals,"
says the Post, lis this practice of waging
war for the collection of debt. Even if the
debts are honestly due to citizens of a
country, their fellow-citizens are under no
obligation to collect them. That obligation
lacking the part of the people is certain
ly not resting on their government, for a
government in these days is not conceded
to have any rights or interests save those
OF the governed" This view accords with
the correct theory of government and with
international ethics. From a moral point
of view no government has right to
plunge whole nation into a costly war.
involving the taxation of all its citizens to
compel the payment of the claims of few.
Taking the money of all the property hold
ers of a country and perhaps sacrificing the
lives of many for the prosecution of war
to enforce the payment of private claims
ought not to be recognized as a proper
| function Of government. AS the Post says:
| 1T is a bad business and should be re-
formed altogether. 1t involves abuses that
are little, IL any. better than buccaneer-
ing" The next international conference
that meets should condemn the practice