Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-04-26
NO LONGER A MENACE,

Mi1itarism Is Imaginary Condition.
There is an inference to be drawn
from the present state Of Russia which
is so important that it is strange it
has not been more noticed, says the
New York Globe. On the surface Rus
sia's military failure and internal dis
orders would indicate merely that
China is not to be partitioned and that
a democratic element is to enter into
Russian government. These things, Of
no inconsiderable magnitude in them
selves, carry implication even more
far reaching.
The bane Of civilization is militar-
ism. Its burdens appear in every
budget and it's ideals disturb the peace
full evolution Of human society. The
hope Of the early democrats that the
reign Of the people meant an era Of
peace has been Knocked. Never has
the world carried more tribute to the
Moloch of war than now. The present
annual expenditure to-day is greater
than during Napoleons time. Why
has not the democratic ideal of the
solidarity rather than the opposition
Of interest among the nations of the
world been realized? Partly because
the people have not that love of peace
that the old theorists attributed to
them; partly because common sense
showed the dangers Of being non-mili-
tary when militarism was the rule
For long time the keystone of the
military arch has been Russia, with
her autocratic government and millions
Of ignorant subjects. The thought that
she would use her supposed power ac-
cording to the old notion of what con-
stituted dynastic and national glory
has directly and indirectly, through al
lianceS and counteralliances, affected
every nation. Russia's policy and the
memory Of the lost provinces-these
have been controlling factors in Eu-
ropean politics and have turned Eu-
rope into an armed camp.
1t is now seen that there Is little
basis for the first of these fears. ia
pan has shown that the DOGGY of the
North is stuffed with harmless saw
dust-tnat there is no more need to
arm to prevent the fulfillment of her
plans than there is to arm against a
petty power. The military puissance
Of Russia has become an exploded bub-
BILE through the exhibition Of her pitt
full weakness. The Prime Minister of
Great Britain may sleep without bad
dreams about India; France behold
that she has been leaning on a waver-
ing reed; Germanys frontier is not
menaced, as once she believed; Austria
Hungary may pursue her Balkan pol
icy with less fear and trembling. An
excuse other than that of Russia must
be sent to justify the further growth
Of militarism.
And to crown the cup Of satisfac-
ton comes the democratic upheaval in
RUSSIA movement which means that
the Cars empire is to become a part
Of Europe in fact as we'll as on the
maps. Whether Europe is to become
Cossack or republican is in progress
Of being determined in favor Of the
latter alternative. Many years will
doubtless be consumed in the evolu-
ton, but the new Russian era is out
OF the !chrysalis and will insist upon
trying it's wings. This means that
Europe will no longer be disturbed by
the presence of an essentially alien
people-that Russia will become plant
to the forces which affect the remain
der Of the civilized world.
We have the right to assume that a
democratic Russia will be less of a
war menace than autocratic Russia
that she will devote herself to inter
nal development rather than to the
task of adding more waste acres to an
already abundant supply. If the issue
had been left to the Russian people,
the present war would not be in prog
ress. While it would be fanatical to
claim that this demonstration Of Rus
sia's military impotence and her inter-
nal transformation mean the end of
war, and that all swords may be beat
en- into plowshares, it is a long step
in the direction of that goal-a goal
which the intelligence of every indus
trial people, however they may act
when under the influence of passion,
leads them to desire to reach.