The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-02-01

suOut WOulu arise IN Cl1S country
that would find its echo in the smallest
village. 1t is not our territory which
is assailed; neither has any foreign
country accepted the Monroe Doctrine;
nor our right to interfere in such mat
ters. But we have declared the Mon
roe Doctrine to all the world; we
consider it point of national honor,
and are bound to stand or fall by it.
Therefore, such all eventuality would
immediately be followed by a declara-
ton of war from us. We would not
consider that we ourselves have forced
Spain to sell us the Philippines at the
rate of two dollars and half for every
inhabitant. No, indeed! For we claim
that the "hand of destiny"-w whatever
kind of hand that may be-has forced
us to such course. And we are not
subjugating an alien people. Heaven
forbid! We are generously taking
them under our protecting wing, which
we call benevolent assimilation"
That sounds pretty-dpesn't it?
The author of "Universal Peace"
expects great things when men like
Low and Elliott shall put their
shoulders to the wheel" in behalf of
arbitration. He will find himself dis
appointed. Not ten thousand each
such men as Carnegie, Low and Elliott
will be able to change prevailing con
ditions. Here is an example in point:
One of the greatest forces of our country,
consisting of all our churches, minis
tiers aud priests, of the Y. M. and Y.
w. q. A., of the Society of Christian
Endeavors, the Salvation Army, the
Prohibition Party, and many thousands
of other worthy people, have tried for
many, many years to stem the tide of
drunkenness in our country-but have
failed lamentably. The manufacture,
sale and consumption of intoxicants is
increasing even far out of proportion
to the growth of our population. In
the very few states which have prohi-
bition, particularly in Maine and Kansas,
drunkenness is constantly on the in
crease. If such great forces as those
have named are unable to obliterate,
aye, even to diminish, in their own
country an evil of which we all know
that it is demoralizing and soul and
Notwithstanding, how then can we
expect to cure the whole world of an
other evil, which, in the opinion of the
greatest men of all ages, is incurable
because it is natural instinct; not a
habit like drunkenness.
War is under all circumstances a
great calamity-and always terribly
cruel. War is not beneficial. OF
course, know that the result of certain
wars has benefited individual nations;
In some instances perhaps the whole of
mankind. But these beneficial results,
except in the case of one or two rev.
olutions, were made possible, only be-
cause previous wars had created we'll
nigh uncomfortable state of affairs.
When one war rights what another has
wronged, we cannot use it as an argu-
ment that war is beneficial. I also
bear in mind that the energy of a
people has sometimes become effemi-
mated during long years of peace, and
that dormant, manly qualities were
awakened by war, and that thereby
nations have been made great and
prosperous. For all that it is very
doubtful whether the advantage gained
was an equivalent to the loss, carnage
and bloodshed of the war.
There are not many men now living
who have seen as much strife as have
l.; for have served actively in two
great wars, and as war correspondent
in four others. My experience has
taught me to abhor war. And yet
say unhesitatingly: War is a necessity.
Why? Simply because it is unavoid-
able. God Himself has planted the in
stinct of fight into every living being.
Look at the birds and insects in the
air; at the animals on earth, under the
earth, and in the water! They all fight.
The infant on the mothers breast will
light for nOurishment; even if it's fight
ing qualities consist Of crying only.
Put little children, who have not yet
attained reasoning power, in room by
themselves and they will commence to
fight as soon as they do not have their
own will. So it continues through all
stages of life. Some people are