Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-07-06

From the reports of the struggle be-
tween Russia and Japan, the New
York World draws the conclusion that
"the conditions of war and those of
modern civilization are rapidly becOm-
ing irreconcilable." To illustrate this
general truth by a particular example
it says: "Take the question of float
Ing mines at sea. The Russians say
that if the japanese ships can lie ten
miles from their coast and throw
shells into their towns they have a
right to protect themselves with such
weapons as will reach the ships. And
in this they are perfectly logical. But
neutrals are equally logical in hold
ing that it is an intolerable invasion
Of their rights to strew the high seas,
the common property of all nations,
witsl deadly explosives. From this
deadlock there is only one escape, and
AS the world condemns war on prin-
ciple it is not specially enamored Of
this doctrine Of necessity, and, Of
course, it has very little moral value.
There can be no doubt, however, that
it is destined to exert practical influ-
ence, and that as that influence in
creaSeS the influence Of the moral con-
demnation of war will increase ALSO
and the idealistic, work together is
clearly shown in the history Of more
than one country, writes a contributor
to the editorial page Of the Chicago
Record-Herald. There was time, for
example, in the history of the United
States when the opponents of slavery
were comparatively few in numbers
and apt to be classed as sentimental
which slave-holding and slave-trading
had disappeared was slow to take up
the anti-slavery crusade. When it did
so, however, its course was largely
determined by the fact that it had no
interest in the holding or the trading,
and it was finally driven into war by
the immensely practical question of
disunion. Meanwhile, just through
the operation Of practical considera-
tons, the moral considerations became
more and more popular. People saw,
with a clearer vision what it was to
their interest to see, and in time the
greater emphasis was placed generally
upon the moral issue because Of the
satisfaction that comes from the pro-
fession of sound morals and the
credit that such profession brings. If
now, as The World says, war has be-
come general nuisance, owing to the
complexity of the business relations
of civilized States, the vast cost Of
ornaments, and the terribly destruc-
tive character of modern weapons, it
will find less and less favor on prac.
teal grounds, the moral condemnation
of it will spread, and apologists who
preach peace most of the time, but
throw in an occasional whoop with a
sublime disregard Of consistency, will
cease to plead for exceptions. Nor are
we reduced to stating the matter n.y.
pothetically. For it is evident that
both the moral and the practical forces
are working more effectively than they
ever have before. The Hague confer
ence and recent arbitration agreements
are highly significant Of the general
disgust that is felt for war, despite
the efforts that are made to belittle
them, and if the Japanese overcome
the Russians, the check to national
brigandage such as has been practiced
upon the Chinese by several powers
will discourage the game in one quar-
ter Of the world at least.