The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-21
"a Plea for Disarmament.

! 5lss y = Z
a Plea for Disarmament.
Baron d 'Estournelles de Constant,
who has distinguished himself as cham
pion Of international arbitration since
the international conference at The
Hague, made speech in the French
senate the other day, advocating q sys-
tenn Of proportional reduction Of their
military and naval forces by the Euro
pean states, on the plan adopted by Ar
gentina and Chile, on the ground that
such course would arrest the ruin Of
France thru such outlay under pretense
of defending her. He proposed that an
glo-French agreement be secured for
limiting naval expenditures, with the
view Of securing the adhesion of the
other powers.
After the somewhat ostentatious at
tempt of Russia to pose as an apostle
of peace in 1899, when the car sue
ceeded in getting the powers to come
together at The Hague to discuss dis
armament, which they did not discuss,
and did not intend to, it would seem
to be of little avail for France to come
forward as an apostle of peace and
mourn over the extravagances of war
expenditures. France was the cause of
the Franco-Prussian war, which was the
procuring cause of the setting up Of the
armed Prussian camp in the center Of
Europe, the establishment Of the Ger
man empire and imperial army and
navy; the Inauguration Of the policy of
the bending of all her energies toward
the Strengthening Of her military and
naval resources, with the general effect
Of leading to the increase Of such ex-
penditures by every power in Europe.
AS a matter Of fact, the establish
ment Of the German empire and the
French exploitation for revenge cost
the European states, so far as increased
budgets show, the difference between
239S, 100000 in 1865 and $3.50, $780, 900 in
1870. The total increase of expenditure
caused by war or the apprehension Of
war was 9131, 100000 year, taking the
average interest at per cent Of more
than the whole taxation Of either of the
richest countries Of Europe-France
and Great Britain. The total expendi-
ture on land and sea forces Of the
European states in the period indicated
increased from &117, 100000 to $780,
$50, 900, and the national debts increased
from 92,626,75o,0o0 in 1865 to 1884,
100000 in 1879. 1885,.
Altho this kind Of swelling mathe-
matics has continued since, the nations
seem to have fitted their backs to the
burden and new sources Of taxation
have been found to meet the require
ments of the budgets. But the process
hurts, all the same. 1t was predicted
that such state of things could not
possibly last much longer, and that a
general disarmament would have tc
be arranged, or war which would
; shake the world would come and re-
, arrange the map of the world. That
! war has not yet occurred, and even the
} old, rotten Turkish empire is still IL
: existence and keeping up military
and naval establishment as provist
against accidents and such like, while
the sultan is still able to keep up hi
amusement Of butchering Armenians
Europe consenting. France and Ger
many between them have six millions
of trained men mobilizable for war ant
, every other European state is proper
tionately provided.
Yet where is the evidence that thes
powers are about to reduce armament
: by common agreements The GA
l Nicholas in his rescript Of 1898 was no
: sincere. He was making plans for NOR
p Chinese territorial land-grabs when h
: was murmuring peace. His reckless an
d bition has now brought him to grea
Z foreign war and domestic revolution
3 which he does not seem able to shak
= off. The very agents Of his autocrac
8 seem to be afraid to lift hand agains
. the postulants Of democratic constitr
lions and universal, suffrage, religion
liberty and popular political education
I The time has not come for reduction 9
l. armament. There is not single natio
9 so far trustful Of another. Pity til
s it's true that: 80
r In alliance, amity and oath
/ There should be found such false, dlE
81 sembling guile.