The Washington times., 1904-09-20
Wars HoTTid Lesson.

wal s lOTIIQ LESSON.
The mind but vaguely grasps the |
horror of the situation at the seat OF
war. Details have been lacking until
recently and now that they are com
ing they shock and sicken the senses. !
Opposing armies, with frenzy that
may be due TO fear or fanaticism, or
in token of instructive savagery IN
leashed, face each other like hordes of
ravening beasts. They have learned
to hate, and they kill and MAIN with
unholy zeal and joy.
Think of a Russian and Japanese
found dead, one with teeth sunk in
the throat of the other, and the sec
ond with rigid finger buried in the
eye socket of his foel
Granted that neither had repre-
sented the highest type of civilization,
both did represent two mighty pow
ers with which all the world must
reckon. They did represent forces
with one or both of which the armies
of more cultivated nations may be
called upon to contend.
Over all the region where the
fiercest fighting has been done hangs
like an accused cloud the odor of pol
luton from thousands of unburied
dead The living must endure, for
they may not undertake the task of
interment without danger of being
fired upon. There is no mercy now.
The white flag waves in vain as en-
blem of surrender. The Red Cross,
benign symbol under which courage
has succored pain, is no longer a pro-
lection. The wounded calling for as
sistance from where they lie in heaps
cannot be reached, but pass away in
hideous agony. Parties attempting
rescue would be swept by guns ready
trained on the suffering.
Such, masters Of civilization, is war.
It is but a single phase. Nothing
need be said of the Industrial loss and
turmoil, nothing. of the desolated
homes, nothing of the moral effect OF
training thousands Of men to the
business of murder. The panorama Of
battles Inferno, as some incident i'm
presses il upon the senses, is enough
History has been a succession OF
wars. but the bloody and brutal pages
of history should all have been writ
ten by now. Once people fought az
fight the carnivora of the jungle
They fought for sustenance and IL
defense. Intelligence taught them o
better methods. They have adopted
these in part and the more advanced
have no excuse for not having adopt
cd them as final and enforced then
upon the ignorance that still believes
in rending human flesh and leavinj
the bones of men to bleach afeld.
That war has been instrumental il
the promotion of liberty, the redress
of wrong, the resentment of tyranny
viii not be denied There may still
be occasion making it inevitable as
means Of correcting the elements tina
lag behind or block the way of prog
ress. Thus the war with Spain wa
justiiable and righteous, and that c
England against the Beers not with
out legitimate ground. Before Their
can be universal and lasting peace tn
enlightened peoples of the Who'll
world must have reached a plan
measurably equal, be governed in az
cord with one standard of morals an
ambitions and able to awe into con
pliance with 4 decent code Of ethic
such as are not capable Of rising I
the requirements prescribed.
The army and the navy must I
kept up in exactly the spirit that
city provides itself with police; n,
to create disorder, but to prevent
quell It.
For nations still but partly civi
lied, and held yet under the thrall
superstition, TO fight each other, or
fight one morally and mentally s
perior, would not be amazing. 3
for two nations advanced in though
students Of diplomacy, given to int
lectual as well as commercial pu
suits, and worshipers of one Co
ever again to desecrate His foOtsto
with the clamor and cutlery of slaug
ter, as they sought to make cOnque
of each other, would be a crime in
depths of wickedness inconceivab
and in its stupidity an offense agar
the world.
Whu Crime ThTiVeS.